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

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

You should never have your best trousers on when you go out to fight for freedom and truth.

The affairs of the world are no more than so much trickery, and a man who toils for money or honor or whatever else in deference to the wishes of others, rather than because his own desire or needs lead him to do so, will always be a fool.

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

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

There is no method by which men can be both free and equal.

If you must take care that your opinions do not differ in the least from those of the person with whom you are talking, you might just as well be alone.

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

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

The Revolution is made by man, but man must forge his revolutionary spirit from day to day.

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

A real leader is somebody who can help us overcome the limitations of our own individual laziness and selfishness and weakness and fear and get us to do better, harder things than we can get ourselves to do on our own.