The U.S. presidency is a Tudor monarchy plus telephones.

No human life, not even the life of a hermit, is possible without a world which directly or indirectly testifies to the presence of other human beings.

The most hateful torment for men is to have knowledge of everything but power over nothing.

The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure it is right.

A real leader is somebody who can help us overcome the limitations of our own individual laziness and selfishness and weakness and fear and get us to do better, harder things than we can get ourselves to do on our own.

An appeal to the reason of the people has never been known to fail in the long run.

I say violence is necessary. It is as American as cherry pie.

I work for a government I despise for ends I think criminal.

Politics, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.

Written laws are like spiderwebs: they will catch, it is true, the weak and poor but would be torn in pieces by the rich and powerful.

Why has the government been instituted at all? Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice without constraint.

If you must take care that your opinions do not differ in the least from those of the person with whom you are talking, you might just as well be alone.

My people and I have come to an agreement that satisfies us both. They are to say what they please, and I am to do what I please.