Quotes about Power

You would have imagined her at one moment a maniac, at another a queen.

A cannonball travels only two thousand miles an hour; light travels two hundred thousand miles a second. Such is the superiority of Jesus Christ over Napoleon.

There is in every village a torch - the teacher; and an extinguisher - the priest.

I would rather be the head of a fly than the tail of a lion.

Genuflection before the idol or the dollar destroys the muscles which walk and the will that moves.

He was fine; he, that orphan that foundling that outcast; he felt himself august and strong; he looked full in the face that society from which he was banished, and into which he had so powerfully intervened; that human justice from which he had snatched its prey; all those tigers whose jaws perforce remained empty; those myrmidons, those judges, those executioners, all that royal power which he, poor, insignificant being, had foiled with the power of God.

To attempt, to brave, to persist, and persevere, to be faithful to one's self, to wrestle with destiny, to astound the catastrophe by the slight fear which is causes us, now to confront unjust power, again to insult intoxicated victory, to hold firm and withstand -- such is the example which nations need and the light which electrifies them.

Succeed; that is the advice that falls, drop by drop, from the overhanging fruit of corruption.

Bonapartist democrat. Grey shades of a quiet mouse colour.

Geometry is deceptive; the hurricane alone is trustworthy.

In principle any revolt strengthens the government it fails to overthrow.

I am he who cometh out of the depths. My lords, you are great and rich. There lies your danger. You profit by the night; but beware! The dawn is all-powerful. You cannot prevail over it. It is coming. Nay! it is come. Within it is the day-spring of irresistible light. And who shall hinder that sling from hurling the sun into the sky. The sun I speak of is Right. You are Privilege. Tremble!