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.
—Hannah Arendt, 1958Quotes
I’m president of the United States, and I’m not going to eat any more broccoli!
—George H. W. Bush, 1990Politics, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.
—Ambrose Bierce, 1906My 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.
—Frederick the Great, c. 1770Every country has the government it deserves.
—Joseph de Maistre, 1811The best of all rulers is but a shadowy presence to his subjects.
—LaoziPolitics is the art of the possible.
—Otto von Bismarck, 1867Envy is the basis of democracy.
—Bertrand Russell, 1930He may be a patriot for Austria, but the question is whether he is a patriot for me.
—Emperor Francis Joseph, c. 1850A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul.
—George Bernard Shaw, 1944Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time.
—E.B. White, 1944I am no courtesan, nor moderator, nor tribune, nor defender of the people: I am myself the people.
—Maximilien Robespierre, 1792I work for a government I despise for ends I think criminal.
—John Maynard Keynes, 1917