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

The first requirement of a statesman is that he be dull.

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

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

Natural rights is simple nonsense: natural and imprescriptible rights, rhetorical nonsense—nonsense upon stilts.

A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul.

Politics is the art of the possible.

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.

Envy is the basis of democracy.

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

I am no courtesan, nor moderator, nor tribune, nor defender of the people: I am myself the people.

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

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