How can one conceive of a one-party system in a country that has over two hundred varieties of cheese?

There can be no other criterion, no other standard than gold. Yes, gold which never changes, which can be shaped into ingots, bars, coins, which has no nationality and which is eternally and universally accepted as the unalterable fiduciary value par excellence.

Nothing more enhances authority than silence. It is the crowning virtue of the strong, the refuge of the weak, the modesty of the proud, the pride of the humble, the prudence of the wise, and the sense of fools. To speak is to . . . dissipate one's strength; whereas what action demands is concentration. Silence is a necessary preliminary to the ordering of one's thoughts.

Since a politician never believes what he says, he is quite surprised to be taken at his word.

In politics it is necessary either to betray one's country or the electorate. I prefer to betray the electorate.

It's better to have a bad plan then no plan at all.

Victory often goes to the army that makes the least mistakes, not the most brilliant plans.