Henry David Thoreau Quotes

The art of government is the organisation of idolatry.

The present struggle seems less about abolishing big government than about who gets to use it.

You have to love that government, but hate the government that might work in your interest and that you could control. That's an interesting propaganda task, but it's been carried out very well.

Politicians are put there to give you the idea that you have freedom of choice. You don't.

Now all politicians assume a necessity of control, the more efficient the control the better.

All political power is primarily an illusion. Illusion. Mirrors and blue smoke, beautiful blue smoke rolling over the surface of highly polished mirrors, first a thin veil of blue smoke, then a thick cloud that suddenly dissolves into wisps of blue smoke, the mirrors catching it all, bouncing it back and forth.

Let's say there are 500 sons and daughters like you in each state. Then we could control the government.

The central issue of our time - of all times - is the size, power and scope of government.

It may be true that you can't fool all the people all the time, but you can fool enough of them to rule a large country.

There should be a law that you can't shut down the government - that you don't have that power.

Let the people think they govern and they will be governed.

There's nothing to be said for opposition. You can only talk about things and you can lay your plans. You can't actually achieve very much; you have to be in government for that.

You may not be thinking about politics, but politics is thinking about you.

Those who administer or possess governing power, always try to surround their high-handed actions with a cloak of legality, and to persuade the people that they act from good motives; this they are easily able to effect when they are the sole interpreters of the law;

Politics is the art of dominating men.

Exploitation and government are two inseparable expressions of what is called politics.

The masses are absolutely being manipulated by those in power.

What institution is insusceptible of abuse in wicked hands?

the White Czar of Congress.

Our government rests in public opinion. Whoever can change public opinion can change the government practically just so much.

Members of Congress don’t want anyone to have more influence than they have—that’s why they hated Harry Hopkins.

Politics determine who has the power, not who has the truth.

We are going to have to endure an imperial media with a government by public opinion poll.

Once you've built the big machinery of political power, remember you won't always be the one to run it.

Precedents are dangerous things; let the rein of government then be braced and held with a steady hand.