"

In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican.

"

When a candidate for public office faces the voters he does not face men of sense; he faces a mob of men whose chief distinguishing mark is the fact t...more

"

Before one may scare the plain people one must first have a firm understanding of the bugaboos that most facilely alarm them. One must study the schem...more

"

It seems to be difficult if not impossible for human beings to avoid thinking of government as mystical entity with a nature and a history all its own...more

"

A good politician is quite as unthinkable as an honest burglar.

"

Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.

"

The demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots.

"

In the present case it is a little inaccurate to say I hate everything. I am strongly in favor of common sense, common honesty and common decency. Thi...more

"

Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods.

"

All government, in its essence, is a conspiracy against the superior man: its one permanent object is to oppress him and cripple him. If it be aristoc...more

"

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by an endless series of hobgoblins, most...more

"

Civilization, in fact, grows more maudlin and hysterical; especially under democracy it tends to degenerate into a mere combat of crazes; the whole ai...more

"

Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance. No one in this world, so far as I know—and I have researched the reco...more

"

As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the...more