If we incline too much to democracy, we shall soon shoot into a monarchy.

People sometimes attribute my success to my genius; all the genius I know anything about is hard work.

Give all the power to the many, they will oppress the few. Give all the power to the few, they will oppress the many.

When a government betrays the people by amassing too much power and becoming tyrannical, the people have no choice but to exercise their original right of self-defense — to fight the government.

One great error is that we suppose mankind more honest than they are.

I think the first duty of society is justice.

There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.

Men often oppose a thing merely because they have had no agency in planning it, or because it may have been planned by those whom they dislike.

A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.

Foreign influence is truly the Grecian horse to a republic. We cannot be too careful to exclude its influence.

It's not tyranny we desire; it's a just, limited, federal government.

I never had one hour's happiness in her society, and yet my mind all round the four-and-twenty hours was harping on the happiness of having her with me unto death.

I was the wings that kept her aloft, while the churning sea of reality nipped at her feet. I kept her from drowning, but I still felt bad, that her toes had to experience such dreadful cold.

Happiness is what happens when your thoughts and beliefs are constantly working in your favor.

Your anger is a gift.

Sweden is a small country and, well, our family's pretty prominent in that world, I guess. And I really didn't like the sound of just being 'the fourth acting Skarsgard.

Sophisticated people invest their money in stock portfolios. Rednecks invest their money in commemorative plates.

If childhood is still a state, it is now chiefly a state of confusion.

Chess is a fairy tale of 1001 blunders.

I'm not saying girls are perfect, because we all know that's not true. But why be unfaithful to her if she was true to you.

This decree is very serious and we will not allow it to pass unopposed. (on Israel offers 10-month West Bank settlement freeze)