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

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

The vice presidency isn’t worth a pitcher of warm piss.

The more corrupt the republic, the more numerous the laws.

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

I am invariably of the politics of the people at whose table I sit, or beneath whose roof I sleep.

A riot is at bottom the language of the unheard.

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

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

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

In politics, what begins in fear usually ends in folly.

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

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