The affairs of the world are no more than so much trickery, and a man who toils for money or honor or whatever else in deference to the wishes of others, rather than because his own desire or needs lead him to do so, will always be a fool.

Out of the crooked timber of humanity no straight thing was ever made.

Let him who desires peace prepare for war.

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

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.

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

You have all the characteristics of a popular politician: a horrible voice, bad breeding, and a vulgar manner.

I am invariably of the politics of the people at whose table I sit, or beneath whose roof I sleep.

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.

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

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

People revere the Constitution yet know so little about it—and that goes for some of my fellow senators.

The vice presidency isn’t worth a pitcher of warm piss.