Politics and Government Quotes

Democracy is when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers

I always voted at my party's call, and I never thought of thinking for myself at all.

I have no ambition to govern men; it is a painful and thankless office

If you have ten thousand regulations you destroy all respect for the law

Liberalism is trust of the people tempered by prudence. Conservatism is distrust of the people tempered by fear

One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors

The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.

The world is governed by opinion

History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.

Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.

We have too many high-sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them

Politics are a very unsatisfactory game

The post of honour is a private station

There is no greater sign of a general decay of virtue in a nation, than a want of zeal in its inhabitants for the good of their country

No oppression is so heavy or lasting as that which is inflicted by the perversion and exorbitance of legal authority

In the frank expression of conflicting opinions lies the greatest promise of wisdom in governmental action.

The logic of words should yield to the logic of realities

If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable

The office of government is not to confer happiness, but to give men the opportunity to work out happiness for themselves

The less of government the better, if society were kept in peace and prosperity.