What experience and history teach is this—that nations and governments have never learned anything from history or acted upon any lessons they might have drawn from it.
—Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, 1830Quotes
All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy.
—Al Smith, 1933Politics is the art of the possible.
—Otto von Bismarck, 1867The best of all rulers is but a shadowy presence to his subjects.
—LaoziEvery country has the government it deserves.
—Joseph de Maistre, 1811The Revolution is made by man, but man must forge his revolutionary spirit from day to day.
—Che Guevara, 1968I am no courtesan, nor moderator, nor tribune, nor defender of the people: I am myself the people.
—Maximilien Robespierre, 1792The most hateful torment for men is to have knowledge of everything but power over nothing.
—Herodotus, c. 425 BCThere is nothing more tyrannical than a strong popular feeling among a democratic people.
—Anthony Trollope, 1862O citizens, first acquire wealth; you can practice virtue afterward.
—Horace, c. 8 BCI say violence is necessary. It is as American as cherry pie.
—H. Rap Brown, 1967It is a certain sign of a wise government and proceeding, when it can hold men’s hearts by hopes, when it cannot by satisfaction.
—Francis Bacon, 1625Sic semper tyrannis! The South is avenged.
—John Wilkes Booth, 1865