Most liberals think of civil liberties as their Achilles heel. It isn’t.

It’s impossible, I think, however much I’d become disillusioned politically or evolve into a post-political person, I don’t think I’d ever change my view that socialism is the best political moment humans have ever come up with.

Of all the enemies of public liberty, war is perhaps the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other.

The difference between a Republican and a Democrat is the Democrat is a cannibal they have to live off each other, while the Republicans, why, they live off the Democrats.

The eyes of others our prisons; their thoughts our cages.

Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.

It sure is hell to be president.

I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly.

As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy.

Political courage is not political suicide.

No body can be healthful without exercise, neither natural body nor politic, and certainly, to a kingdom or estate, a just and honourable war is the true exercise.

You don’t have to turn on the TV set. You don’t have to work on the Internet. It’s up to you.

What Washington needs is adult supervision.

About all I can say for the United States Senate is that it opens with a prayer and closes with an investigation.

Nothing is more precious than independence and liberty.

What’s real freedom? Real freedom is being able to not have my way and still be just as happy as if I did.

In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.

Fashion is an imposition, a reign on freedom.

Before I became a chief minister, I never thought that one day I’d be the chief minister.

While discipline and freedom seem like they sit on opposite sides of the spectrum, they are actually very connected.

In our age there is no such thing as ‚keeping out of politics.‘ All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia.

I have been a firm believer in the federal structure of our country as enshrined in the Constitution.

Excess of liberty, whether it lies in state or individuals, seems only to pass into excess of slavery.

I am never going to have anything more to do with politics or politicians. When this war is over I shall confine myself entirely to writing and painting.

Being president isn’t anything like reality TV. It’s not about sending insulting tweets or making fiery speeches; it’s about whether or not the candidate can handle the awesome responsibility of leading this country.

I do have a political agenda. It’s to have as few regulations as possible.

I suspect that even most conservatives would prefer to live in the kind of world conjured up in the liberals‘ imagination rather than in the kind of world we are in fact stuck with.

Whenever you put a man on the Supreme Court he ceases to be your friend.

It isn’t generally the case that liberals dominate entire hierarchies. That isn’t generally how it works, because the hierarchies are usually set up so that conservatives fill up the hierarchies; it’s in the nature of hierarchy.

We will not be intimidated or pushed off the world stage by people who do not like what we stand for, and that is, freedom, democracy and the fight against disease, poverty and terrorism.

Lincoln said you cannot be President without spending some item on your knees. I have repeated that and a bunch of Atheists got all over me. Wait a minute. Does that mean that you cannot be President if you are an Atheist? I say yea that does mean that.

Nothing doth more hurt in a state than that cunning men pass for wise.

The English think they are free. They are free only during the election of members of parliament.

You can’t be in politics unless you can walk in a room and know in a minute who’s for you and who’s against you.

Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves.

I’ve analyzed the best I can… and I have not found an impeachable offense, and therefore resignation is not an acceptable course.

When the President does it, that means that it’s not illegal.

Politicians must set their aims for the high ground and according to our various leanings, Democratic, Republican, Independent, we will follow. Politicians must be told if they continue to sink into the mud of obscenity, they will proceed alone.

I would just like to say something, ladies and gentlemen. Something that I think is very important. It is that, you, we – we own this country. We – we own it. It is not you owning it, and not politicians owning it. Politicians are employees of ours.

I think that if I would talk on a political subject, if I talk about it, it would divide the audience on that issue. That’s not my issue.

What we won when all of our people united must not be lost in suspicion and distrust and selfishness and politics. Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as president.

Politics is the art of controlling your environment.

The men and women of Afghanistan are building a nation that is free, and proud, and fighting terror – and America is honored to be their friend.

No man is good enough to govern another man without the other’s consent.

Compromise used to mean that half a loaf was better than no bread. Among modern statesmen it really seems to mean that half a loaf; is better than a whole loaf.

I stay out of politics because if I begin thinking too much about politics, I’ll probably… drop writing children’s books and become a political cartoonist again.

I would not give half a guinea to live under one form of government other than another. It is of no moment to the happiness of an individual.

The truth is I love being alive. And I love feeling free. So if I can’t have those things then I feel like a caged animal and I’d rather not be in a cage. I’d rather be dead. And it’s real simple. And I think it’s not that uncommon.

The right honourable gentleman caught the Whigs bathing, and walked away with their clothes. He has left them in the full enjoyment of their liberal positions, and he is himself a strict conservative of their garments.

I was an Eisenhower Republican when I started out at 21 because he promised to get us out of the Korean War.

If you believe that tax policy has nothing to do with the economy, then you’re pretty much like a rock, only dumber.

I don’t trust liberals, I trust conservatives.

The day-to-day making of policy is arguing all the time. You’re trying to get the right approach and the right answer, and there are moments that aren’t very pleasant. But in the end, you look at the overall product.

Everything is changing. People are taking their comedians seriously and the politicians as a joke.

Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility. For the person who is unwilling to grow up, the person who does not want to carry his own weight, this is a frightening prospect.

Part of the reason that our politics seems so tough right now and facts and science and argument does not seem to be winning the day all the time is because we’re hardwired not to always think clearly when we’re scared. And the country’s scared.

I wish I could say to all those people who consider themselves anarchists or radicals: Please join the nonviolent movement. This is how Gandhi freed India. If Gandhi freed India, we can certainly free the United States from our racism, misogyny, and bigotry.

When the prison doors are opened, the real dragon will fly out.

The intersection of law, politics, and technology is going to force a lot of good thinking.

If the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists – to protect them and to promote their common welfare – all else is lost.

Those newspapers of the nation which most loudly cried dictatorship against me would have been the first to justify the beginnings of dictatorship by somebody else.