History is a relentless master. It has no present, only the past rushing into the future. To try to hold read more

History is a relentless master. It has no present, only the past rushing into the future. To try to hold fast is to be swept aside.

They who have reasoned ignorantly, or who have aimed at effecting their personal ends by flattering the popular feeling, have read more

They who have reasoned ignorantly, or who have aimed at effecting their personal ends by flattering the popular feeling, have boldly affirmed that "one man is as good as another;" a maxim that is true in neither nature, revealed morals, nor political theory.

Politics is the art of the possible.

Politics is the art of the possible.

It is a besetting vice of democracies to substitute public opinion for law. This is the usual form in which read more

It is a besetting vice of democracies to substitute public opinion for law. This is the usual form in which masses of men exhibit their tyranny.

When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators.

When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators.

...the differences between the conservative and the radical seem to spring mainly from their attitude toward the future. Fear of read more

...the differences between the conservative and the radical seem to spring mainly from their attitude toward the future. Fear of the future causes us to lean against and cling to the present, while faith in the future renders us receptive to change.

For every prohibition you create you also create an underground.

For every prohibition you create you also create an underground.

The main political problem is how to prevent the police power from becoming tyrannical. This is the meaning of all read more

The main political problem is how to prevent the police power from becoming tyrannical. This is the meaning of all the struggles for liberty.

In Germany, they first came for the communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a communist. Then they read more

In Germany, they first came for the communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Catholic. Then they came for me -- and by that time there was nobody left to speak up.