I've been to war, and it's not easy to kill. It's bloody and messy and totally horrifying, and the consequences read more

I've been to war, and it's not easy to kill. It's bloody and messy and totally horrifying, and the consequences are serious.

Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.

Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.

Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it, misdiagnosing it, and then misapplying the wrong remedies.

Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it, misdiagnosing it, and then misapplying the wrong remedies.

Every St. Patrick's Day every Irishman goes out to find another Irishman to make a speech to.

Every St. Patrick's Day every Irishman goes out to find another Irishman to make a speech to.

A new poll showed that if the election was held today, people would be confused because it is normally held read more

A new poll showed that if the election was held today, people would be confused because it is normally held in November.

The better part of statesmanship might be to know clearly and precisely what not to do.

The better part of statesmanship might be to know clearly and precisely what not to do.

The power of a movement lies in the fact that it can indeed change the habits of people. This change read more

The power of a movement lies in the fact that it can indeed change the habits of people. This change is not the result of force but of dedication, of moral persuasion.

It is the very essence of despotism that it can never afford to fail. This is what distinguishes it most read more

It is the very essence of despotism that it can never afford to fail. This is what distinguishes it most vitally from democracy. In a despotism there is no organized opposition which can take over the power when the Administration in office has failed. All the eggs are in one basket. Everything is staked on one coterie of men. When the going is good, they move more quickly and efficiently than democracies, where the opposition has to be persuaded and conciliated. But when they lose, there are no reserves. There are no substitutes on the bench ready to go out on the field and carry the ball. That is why democracies with the habit of party government have outlived all other forms of government in the modern world. They have, as it were, at least two governments always at hand, and when one fails they have the other. They have diversified the risks of mortality, corruption, and stupidity which pervade all human affairs. They have remembered that the most beautifully impressive machine cannot run for very long unless there is available a complete supply of spare parts.

He who knows how to flatter also knows how to slander.

He who knows how to flatter also knows how to slander.