The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.

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

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

It is a certain sign of a wise government and proceeding, when it can hold men’s hearts by hopes, when it cannot by satisfaction.

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

O citizens, first acquire wealth; you can practice virtue afterward.

Every country has the government it deserves.

Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them.

Do that which consists in taking no action, and order will prevail.

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.

Treaties, you see, are like girls and roses: they last while they last.