Politics is the art of the possible.

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

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

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

Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them.

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.

Out of the crooked timber of humanity no straight thing was ever made.

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.

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

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.

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

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