Plato Quotes

I don't order laws, I propose them.

Politics is the art of controlling your environment.

The English king's power was curbed by Parliament, though that wasn't always a good thing, as politicians often behave no better than monarchs - there are just more of them.

Governments need to have both shepherds and butchers.

It is not a sign of arrogance for the king to rule. That is what he is there for.

It is not wisdom but Authority that makes a law.

He who is firmly seated in authority soon learns to think security, and not progress, the highest lesson in statecraft.

I don't just write letters. I write laws.

I lack the strength needed to sustain the scepter. I abhorred it, but in the end I agreed to accept it in order to prevent evils to the country which was about to succumb anew, if not to the former slavery, at least to the horrors of anarchy.

There never was that government called a republic, which was not ultimately ruled by a single will, and, therefore, (however bold may seem the paradox,) virtually and substantially a monarchy.

To rule is an art, not a science.

All empire is no more than power in trust.

Kings are for nations in swaddling clothes.

Being military governor was a pretty heady job. You could turn to your secretary and say, "Take a law.

To govern is to chose.

What is a government for except to dictate. If it does not dictate, then it is not a government.

Governing is about selecting.

Whoso desireth to govern well and securely, it behoveth him to have a vigilant eye to the proceedings of great princes, and to consider seriously of their designs.

I truly am of the belief that I should be nominated and elected 'Emperor of North America' and given a shot at being ruler of the universe, and I haven't had the chance to craft my campaigns for these offices yet because I've been very busy with Brock Lesnar.

Those who imagine that a politician would make a better figurehead than a hereditary monarch might perhaps make the acquaintance of more politicians.

Power makes you a monarch, and all the fancy robes in the world won't do the job without it.

Who so taketh in hand to frame any state or government ought to presuppose that all men are evil, and at occasions will show themselves so to be.

Others may fashion more smoothly images of bronze (I for one believe it), evoke living faces from marble, plead causes better, trace with a wand the wanderings of the heavens and foretell the rising of stars. But you, Roman, remember to rule the peoples with power (these will be your arts); impose the habit of peace, spare the vanquished and war down the proud!

Politics are the divine science, after all.

The art of governing mankind by deceiving them.