Oh, how empty is praise when it reflects back to its origin!

It is necessary from the very nature of things that power should be a check to power.

The deterioration of every government begins with the decay of the principles on which it was founded.

We receive three educations, one from our parents, one from our school-masters, and one from the world. The third contradicts all that the first two teach us.

There is no crueler tyranny than that which is perpetuated under the shield of law and in the name of justice.

Every man who has power is impelled to abuse it.

In the state of nature... all men are born equal, but they cannot continue in this equality. Society makes them lose it, and they recover it only by the protection of the law.

A nation may lose its liberties in a day and not miss them in a century.

For a country, everything will be lost when the jobs of an economist and a banker become highly respected professions.

Liberty... is there only when there is no abuse of power.

Knowledge humanizes mankind, and reason inclines to mildness; but prejudices eradicate every tender disposition.

Who's possessing who now, Casper?

Advocates of capitalism like to appeal to the sacred principles of liberty, which are embodied in one maxim: The fortunate must not be restrained in the exercise of tyranny over the unfortunate.

It's no accident that my first novel was called Americana. This was a private declaration of independence, a statement of my intention to use the whole picture, the whole culture.

If you want to see me cry, just come to a photo shoot.

Help only comes to those who ask for it.

I think I'm a better director than I ever was an actor. I'd love to go back to acting, but nobody seems to want me.

There are some people who leave impressions not so lasting as the imprint of an oar upon the water.

I don't say anything and I feel awful. I tell somebody and I feel worse. I'm having trouble finding a middle ground.

It is ill to marry in the month of May.