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

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.

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

To be turned from one’s course by men’s opinions, by blame, and by misrepresentation shows a man unfit to hold office.

My people and I have come to an agreement that satisfies us both. They are to say what they please, and I am to do what I please.

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

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

Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time.

Every communist must grasp the truth: “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.”

Every country has the government it deserves.

An appeal to the reason of the people has never been known to fail in the long run.

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

A riot is at bottom the language of the unheard.