Don Marquis Quotes

Men in authority will always think that criticism of their policies is dangerous. They will always equate their policies with patriotism, and find criticism subversive.

The essence of American politics consists of the manipulation of populism by elitism.

…a low and dangerous demagogue.

Demagogues are the mob's lackeys.

You never discount a demagogue.

Demagoguery is not unknown in American history.

Trump manipulates the fearful by promising that he will use his fraudulent deal-making prowess to protect and take care of his supporters.

Nationalism is a tool increasingly used by leaders to bolster their authority, especially amid difficult economic and political conditions.

There's never been an era absent of demagogues.

There are no generalizations in American politics that vested selfishness cannot cut through.

Machiavelli had some cold tricks for people who wanted to be demagogues and wanted to take over the world.

The heights of popularity and patriotism are still the beaten road to power and tyranny.

After 9/11, I knew I wanted to write about power and identity and the way Americans on all sides of the political spectrum often mythologize our leaders, which are themes that the superhero genre has always handled really well.

Each side had its uninformed fanatics. And each side had political leaders who fanned the flames with their rhetoric.

Huey Long’s methods outdid the good he did with the results.

The term Party is applied equally to the peaceful parties of America and to the Communist Party of Russia, the Nazi Party of Germany, and the Fascist Party of Italy. The methodology of these parties varies, but their fundamental objective-to place and keep their leaders in control of the government - is the same.

Politics is the art of dominating men.

All politics is a combination of rhetoric and reality.

History, in general, only informs us what bad government is.

In every age the vilest specimens of human nature are to be found among demagogues.

Every dictator uses religion as a prop to keep himself in power.

Truth is not the first casualty of war alone: it is the first casualty of populism.

There is no passion to which the rulers of a people can address themselves with greater [political] effect [than war.]

The populist left loves power more than democracy, and it will fight to keep it at great cost.

When leaders use words to bludgeon and not to persuade, when opinion supersedes fact and people stop listening to one another, we have, the perfect conditions for the true demagogue. [Donald] Trump is running hard for that role.