The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on.

What each man does is based not on direct and certain knowledge, but on pictures made by himself or given to him...

Democracy is much too important to be left to public opinion.

A country survives its legislation. That truth should not comfort the conservative nor depress the radical. For it means that public policy can enlarge its scope and increase its audacity, can try big experiments without trembling too much over the result. This nation could enter upon the most radical experiments and could afford to fail in them.

A regime, an established order, is rarely overthrown by a revolutionary movement; usually a regime collapses of its own weakness and corruption and then a revolutionary movement enters among the ruins and takes over the powers that have become vacant.

A useful definition of liberty is obtained only by seeking the principle of liberty in the main business of human life, that is to say, in the process by which men educate their responses and learn to control their environment.

Lovers who have nothing to do but love each other are not really to be envied; love and nothing else very soon is nothing else.