The single most exciting thing you encounter in government is competence, because it's so rare.

The single most exciting thing you encounter in government is competence, because it's so rare.

All free governments are managed by the combined wisdom and folly of the people.

All free governments are managed by the combined wisdom and folly of the people.

Government is an association of men who do violence to the rest of us.

Government is an association of men who do violence to the rest of us.

If you want to understand your government, don't begin by reading the Constitution. (It conveys precious little of the flavor read more

If you want to understand your government, don't begin by reading the Constitution. (It conveys precious little of the flavor of today's statecraft.) Instead, read selected portions of the Washington telephone directory containing listings for all the organizations with titles beginning with the word National.

I am for Peace, for Retrenchment, and for Reform,--thirty years
ago the great watchwords of the great Liberal Party.

I am for Peace, for Retrenchment, and for Reform,--thirty years
ago the great watchwords of the great Liberal Party.

Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison.

Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison.

A government is like fire, a handy servant, but a dangerous master.

A government is like fire, a handy servant, but a dangerous master.

Everybody wants to eat at the government's table, but nobody wants to do the dishes.

Everybody wants to eat at the government's table, but nobody wants to do the dishes.

The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is unfit to govern.

The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is unfit to govern.