The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure it is right.

I am no courtesan, nor moderator, nor tribune, nor defender of the people: I am myself the people.

O citizens, first acquire wealth; you can practice virtue afterward.

The first requirement of a statesman is that he be dull.

He may be a patriot for Austria, but the question is whether he is a patriot for me.

A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul.

Out of the crooked timber of humanity no straight thing was ever made.

Politics is the art of the possible.

In politics, what begins in fear usually ends in folly.

The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all.

Do that which consists in taking no action, and order will prevail.

All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy.

I shall be an autocrat: that’s my trade. And the good Lord will forgive me: that’s his.