The most dangerous moment for a bad government is when it begins to reform.

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.

Nothing can be truer than fairy wisdom. It is as true as sunbeams.

I dread specialists in power because they are specialists speaking outside of their special subject.

Sarah Palin is an empty vessel ready to be filled by ideology that she doesn't even understand, and that is really scary. Nothing is more frightening than an empty vessel in power.

I'm very relaxed. I have a family, I have a partner of 20 years, I have a wonderful life; nothing could be better.

A businessman is the only man who is forever apologizing for his occupation.

...what I try to do is a good bad picture. I work it out very carefully, and then I do something that looks as if it went wrong.

I grew up reading Shakespeare and Mark Twain.

Some spirit to stand simply forth, Heroic in its nakedness, Against the uttermost of earth.

Music is structure out of Chaos

I exercise strong self control. I never drink anything stronger than gin before breakfast.