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The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.

I was a guy who trusted the government. Now, I don't trust a damn thing they do.

Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.

I was really too honest a man to be a politician and live.

An efficient government is dangerous in the hands of the wrong man. Sadly, the right sort of man never seems interested in the job.

A wise governor told me a long time ago, political capital you don't get more of by keeping it. You get it by using it.

Feeling good about government is like looking on the bright side of any catastrophe. When you quit looking on the bright side, the catastrophe is still there.

Politics was put in front of me. I do politics because it's the vehicle for change and because I happen to be good at it... I had this sort of calm fearlessness, that some would call foolishness.

Fear is the foundation of most governments.

There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty.