Real liberty is neither found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments.

The people will save their government, if the government itself will allow them.

No man will ever carry out of the Presidency the reputation which carried him into it.

I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.

Sometimes, it’s just easier to say yes to that extra snack or dessert, because frankly, it is exhausting to keep saying no. It’s exhausting to plead with our kids to eat just one more bite of vegetables.

My Democratic friends just can’t accept the fact that the American people chose Donald Trump to be president – it’s called democracy. My advice to them, and I say this gently: Fill out a ‚Hurt Feelings Report‘ and let’s move on.

A lot of people have a sense-of-entitlement mentality that somebody else ought to do these things for them. People are mad at the government for not getting jobs for them. I don’t understand why it’s the government’s responsibility.

There will be no whitewash in the White House.

Peace is liberty in tranquillity.

I like to talk about my obsession with french fries because I don’t want people to think that ‚Let’s Move‘ is about complete, utter deprivation. It’s about moderation and real-life changes and ideas that really work for families.

In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.

The best government is a benevolent tyranny tempered by an occasional assassination.

Our country is now taking so steady a course as to show by what road it will pass to destruction, to wit: by consolidation of power first, and then corruption, its necessary consequence.

So confident am I in the intentions, as well as wisdom, of the government, that I shall always be satisfied that what is not done, either cannot, or ought not to be done.

The government argues that First Amendment rights are outweighed by the need to prosecute those who transmit classified information and documents.

Fame is like caviar, you know – it’s good to have caviar but not when you have it at every meal.

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

Democracy is also a form of worship. It is the worship of Jackals by Jackasses.

Democracy is the process by which people choose the man who’ll get the blame.

There are many people who feel that it is useless and futile to continue talking about peace and non-violence against a government whose only reply is savage attacks on an unarmed and defenseless people.

No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms.

Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.

Truth is mysterious, elusive, always to be conquered. Liberty is dangerous, as hard to live with as it is elating. We must march toward these two goals, painfully but resolutely, certain in advance of our failings on so long a road.

Government isn’t that good at rapid advancement of technology. It tends to be better at funding basic research. To have things take off, you’ve got to have commercial companies do it.

Anyone who knows history, particularly the history of Europe, will, I think, recognize that the domination of education or of government by any one particular religious faith is never a happy arrangement for the people.

The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.

Fifty years of isolating Cuba had failed to promote democracy, setting us back in Latin America. That’s why we restored diplomatic relations, opened the door to travel and commerce, and positioned ourselves to improve the lives of the Cuban people.

We must have government that builds stamina into communities and men. That makes men instead of mendicants.

Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation.

He who exercises government by means of his virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place and all the stars turn towards it.

Politicians love regulating. That’s part of the whole power structure.

Virtue is a habit of the mind, consistent with nature and moderation and reason.

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

Economic freedom cannot be sacrificed if political freedom is to be preserved.

If the government ever imposes a tax on books – and I wouldn’t put it past them – I’m in dead trouble.

I don’t feel very comfortable defending my fashion except to say that people don’t have to buy it. You do have to consume. You have to live. If you’ve got the money to be able to afford it, then it’s really good to buy something from me, but don’t buy too much.

If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.

I think members of the legislature, people who have to run for office, know the connection between money and influence on what laws get passed.

The IRS! They’re like the Mafia, they can take anything they want!

The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to an uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government.

Governments are not representative. They have their own power, serving segments of the population that are dominant and rich.

Democracy is when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers.

My kids are normal. If they could eat burgers and fries and ice cream every day, they would. And so would I. But that doesn’t sustain us.

Politics are very much like war. We may even have to use poison gas at times.

It is his restraint that is honorable to a person, not their liberty.

In my opinion eight years as president is enough and sometimes too much for any man to serve in that capacity.

The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive.

The man who makes everything that leads to happiness depends upon himself, and not upon other men, has adopted the very best plan for living happily. This is the man of moderation, the man of manly character and of wisdom.

Obamacare sucks, it can’t be fixed.

The best way to enhance freedom in other lands is to demonstrate here that our democratic system is worthy of emulation.

Your true traveller finds boredom rather agreeable than painful. It is the symbol of his liberty – his excessive freedom. He accepts his boredom, when it comes, not merely philosophically, but almost with pleasure.

Democracy passes into despotism.

The happy Union of these States is a wonder; their Constitution a miracle; their example the hope of Liberty throughout the world.

It’s actually very easy for democracy to disappear.

I’m substantially concerned about the policy directions of the space agency. We have a situation in the U.S. where the White House and Congress are at odds over what the future direction should be. They’re sort of playing a game and NASA is the shuttlecock that they’re hitting back and forth.

A University should be a place of light, of liberty, and of learning.

Liberty is the right to do what I like; license, the right to do what you like.

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.

A dictatorship would be a heck of a lot easier, there’s no question about it.

The worst government is often the most moral. One composed of cynics is often very tolerant and humane. But when fanatics are on top there is no limit to oppression.