The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure it is right.

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

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

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

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

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

I work for a government I despise for ends I think criminal.

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

I’m president of the United States, and I’m not going to eat any more broccoli!

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.

I shall be an autocrat: that’s my trade. And the good Lord will forgive me: that’s his.

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

Why has the government been instituted at all? Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice without constraint.