The heaviest penalty for declining to rule is to be ruled by someone inferior to yourself. Plato
“Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you. ” ― Pericles
"Politics have no relation to morals." Niccolo Machiavelli
“Corrupt politicians make the other ten percent look bad.” ― Henry Kissinger
Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first. Ronald Reagan
The one who adapts his policy to the times prospers, and likewise that the one whose policy clashes with the demands of the times does not. Niccolo Machiavelli
The new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once and for all. Niccolo Machiavelli
Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil. Niccolo Machiavelli
Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain. Niccolo Machiavelli
Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others. Niccolo Machiavelli
A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests. Niccolo Machiavelli
Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them. Paul Valery
I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians. Charles De Gaulle
You're not to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it. Malcolm X
Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Lord Acton
Politics: A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage. Ambrose Bierce
The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis. Dante Alighieri
It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both. Niccolo Machiavelli
One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived. Niccolo Machiavelli
Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions. Niccolo Machiavelli
“A paranoid is someone who knows a little of what's going on. ” ― William S. Burroughs
“I predict future happiness for Americans, if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.” ― Thomas Jefferson
“In politics, stupidity is not a handicap.” ― Napoleon Bonaparte
“The oppressed are allowed once every few years to decide which particular representatives of the oppressing class are to represent and repress them.”― Karl Marx
“Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.” ― Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
“A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.” ― Edward R. Murrow
“Patriotism is, fundamentally, a conviction that a particular country is the best in the world because you were born in it….” ― George Bernard Shaw
“As government expands, liberty contracts.” ― Ronald Reagan
“In politics we presume that everyone who knows how to get votes knows how to administer a city or a state. When we are ill... we do not ask for the handsomest physician, or the most eloquent one.” ― Plato
“The problem is that the people with the most ridiculous ideas are always the people who are most certain of them.” (The Decider, July 21, 2007)” ― Bill Maher
“When we are shown scenes of starving children in Africa, with a call for us to do something to help them, the underlying ideological message is something like: "Don't think, don't politicize, forget about the true causes of their poverty, just act, contribute money, so that you will not have to think!” ― Slavoj Zizek
“I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left.” ― Margaret Thatcher
“In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.” ― Desiderius Erasmus
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We can go on and on, collecting the wisdom of some of the great thinkers of this planet.
Shall we remain as silent observers of this wisdom? Shall we infer important lessons? Shall we change our lenses towards all the censored crap that is produced for us, the further the more infused with knowledge and precision, so that we, as the most powerful ambassadors of 'their' interests continue serving by spreading the influence? How about our core interests? Can't we all once agree that the "King is naked!!!"?
Cover photo: history.com