Only enemies speak the truth. Friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty.

Only enemies speak the truth. Friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty.

I was known as the chief grave robber of my state.

I was known as the chief grave robber of my state.

Power is not revealed by striking hard or often, but by striking true.

Power is not revealed by striking hard or often, but by striking true.

Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for the appointment by the corrupt few.

Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for the appointment by the corrupt few.

To those who feel that their values are the values, the less controlled systems necessarily present a spectacle of "chaos," read more

To those who feel that their values are the values, the less controlled systems necessarily present a spectacle of "chaos," simply because such systems respond to a diversity of values. The more successfully such systems respond to diversity, the more "chaos" there will be, by definition, according to the standards of any specific set of values- other than diversity or freedom as values. Looked at another way, the more self-righteous observers there are, the more chaos (and "waste") will be seen.

It is not in the nature of politics that the best men should be elected. The best men do not read more

It is not in the nature of politics that the best men should be elected. The best men do not want to govern their fellowmen.

While technically I did not commit a crime, an impeachable offense... these are legalisms, as far as the handling of read more

While technically I did not commit a crime, an impeachable offense... these are legalisms, as far as the handling of this matter is concerned; it was so botched up, I made so many bad judgments. The worst ones, mistakes of the heart, rather than the head. But let me say, a man in that top job - he's got to have a heart, but his head must always rule his heart.

...whenever it is necessary that one of several conflicting opinions should prevail and when one would have to be made read more

...whenever it is necessary that one of several conflicting opinions should prevail and when one would have to be made to prevail by force if need be, it is less wasteful to determine which has the stronger support by counting numbers than by fighting. Democracy is the only method of peaceful change that man has yet been discovered.

A democratic despotism is like a theocracy: it assumes its own correctness.

A democratic despotism is like a theocracy: it assumes its own correctness.