He may be a patriot for Austria, but the question is whether he is a patriot for me.
—Emperor Francis Joseph, c. 1850Quotes
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.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1774I work for a government I despise for ends I think criminal.
—John Maynard Keynes, 1917The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure it is right.
—Judge Learned Hand, 1944I am invariably of the politics of the people at whose table I sit, or beneath whose roof I sleep.
—George Borrow, 1843A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul.
—George Bernard Shaw, 1944The vice presidency isn’t worth a pitcher of warm piss.
—John Nance Garner, c. 1967Do that which consists in taking no action, and order will prevail.
—Laozi, c. 500 BCO citizens, first acquire wealth; you can practice virtue afterward.
—Horace, c. 8 BCYou have all the characteristics of a popular politician: a horrible voice, bad breeding, and a vulgar manner.
—Aristophanes, c. 424 BCThe more corrupt the republic, the more numerous the laws.
—Tacitus, c. 117The Revolution is made by man, but man must forge his revolutionary spirit from day to day.
—Che Guevara, 1968Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time.
—E.B. White, 1944