About the time we can make the ends meet, somebody moves the ends.

It is a curious fact that when we get sick we want an uncommon doctor... When we get into a war, we dreadfully want an uncommon admiral and an uncommon general. Only when we get into politics are we content with the common man.

It is a paradox that every dictator has climbed to power on the ladder of free speech. Immediately on attaining power each dictator has suppressed all free speech except his own.

Many years ago I concluded that a few hair shirts were part of the mental wardrobe of every man. The President differs only from other men in that he has a more extensive wardrobe.

Never worry about anything that is past. Charge it up to experience and forget the trouble. There are always plenty of troubles ahead, so don't turn and look back on any behind you.

Once upon a time my political opponents honored me as possessing the fabulous intellectual and economic power by which I created a worldwide depression all by myself.

The thing I enjoyed most were visits from children. They did not want public office.

True liberalism is found not in striving to spread bureaucracy but in striving to set bounds to it.

We are in danger of developing a cult of the Common Man, which means a cult of mediocrity.

We get the fundamental confusion that government, since it can correct much abuse, can also create righteousness.

Where there is a lack of honor in government, the morals of the whole people are poisoned.

Wisdom consists not so much in knowing what to do in the ultimate as in knowing what to do next.

Words without actions are the assassins of idealism.