Politicians are like the bones of a horse's foreshoulder-not a straight one in it.

What gunpowder did for war the printing press has done for the mind.

What is defeat? Nothing but education, nothing but the first step to something better.

Government began in tyranny and force, began in the feudalism of the soldier and bigotry of the priest; and the ideas of justice and humanity have been fighting their way, like a thunderstorm, against the organized selfishness of human nature.

Two kinds of men generally best succeed in political life; men of no principle, but of great talent; and men of no talent, but of one principle - that of obedience to their superiors.

Do not take the yardstick of your ignorance to measure what the ancients knew, and call everything which you do not know lies. Do not call things untrue because they are marvelous, but give them a fair consideration.

Aristocracy is always cruel.