Archive

Quotes

All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy.

—Al Smith, 1933

On the loftiest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own rump.

—Michel de Montaigne, 1580

Whether for good or evil, it is sadly inevitable that all political leadership requires the artifices of theatrical illusion. In the politics of a democracy, the shortest distance between two points is often a crooked line.

—Arthur Miller, 2001

Envy is the basis of democracy.

—Bertrand Russell, 1930

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

—Judge Learned Hand, 1944

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

—Lord Acton, 1887

The best of all rulers is but a shadowy presence to his subjects.

—Laozi

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

—Ambrose Bierce, 1906

The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all.

—G.K. Chesterton, 1908

He may be a patriot for Austria, but the question is whether he is a patriot for me.

—Emperor Francis Joseph, c. 1850

There is nothing more tyrannical than a strong popular feeling among a democratic people.

—Anthony Trollope, 1862

I shall be an autocrat: that’s my trade. And the good Lord will forgive me: that’s his.

—Catherine the Great, c. 1796

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

—Herodotus, c. 425 BC