The consent of the governed" is more than a safeguard against ignorant tyrants: it is an insurance against benevolent despots as well.

The common interests very largely elude public opinion entirely, and can be managed only by a specialised class.

It is all very well to talk about being the captain of your soul. It is hard, and only a few heroes, saints, and geniuses have been the captains of their souls for any extended period of their lives.

A rational man acting in the real world may be defined as one who decides where he will strike a balance between what he desires and what can be done.

He has honor if he holds himself to an ideal of conduct though it is inconvenient, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so.

The invisible government [bosses] is malign. But the evil doesn't come from the fact that it plays horse with the Newtonian theory of the constitution. What is dangerous about it is that we do not see it, cannot use it, and are compelled to submit to it.

When philosophers try to be politicians they generally cease to be philosophers.