Furthermore, when citizens are all almost equal, it becomes difficult for them to defend their independence against the aggressions of power.

The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.

Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.

Despotism often presents itself as the repairer of all the ills suffered, the support of just rights, defender of the oppressed, and founder of order.

It is easier for the world to accept a simple lie than a complex truth.

There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.

A democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it.

There is no country in the world in which everything can be provided for by the laws, or in which political institutions can prove a substitute for common sense and public morality.

Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.

In the United States, the majority undertakes to supply a multitude of ready-made opinions for the use of individuals, who are thus relieved from the necessity of forming opinions of their own.

I do not know if the people of the United States would vote for superior men if they ran for office, but there can be no doubt that such men do not run.

A world compelled to good alone is as much a shrine to compulsion as a world compelled to evil only.The Twenty-first Voyage

Have peace in knowing, dear ones, that we are all composed of energy. Energy never dies. It is always changing and transforming.

If I'm in work mode and going to meetings, I'll make an effort and dress up, but when I'm at home or just chilling, I'm in beanies and jeans and sneakers.

The question before the advanced nations is not whether they can afford to help the developing nations, but whether they can afford not to do so.

People scream at me, "Hey, let's party." I give off an I'm-crazy-and-I-want-to-arty-and-wrestle-you vibe.

I always watched movies and rooted for the bad guys, you know? I've always been that kind of guy. I still hold some respect for criminals that are good at their jobs.

I didn't go to Cirque Lodge for alcohol abuse or drug abuse.

Our passions may be compared to certain slaves--the more severity we show them, the better they obey us.

I think that the economics of book publishing favor hits with long book runs. You make all your money on the last bunch of books, not the first.

And I wonder if anyone is really happy. I hope they are. I really hope they are.