The best servants of the people, like the best valets, must whisper unpleasant truths in the master's ear. It is the court fool, not the foolish courtier, whom the king can least afford to lose.

It is not easy for a person to do any great harm when his tenure of office is short, whereas long possession begets tyranny.

Nowadays, for the sake of the advantage which is to be gained from the public revenues and from office, men want to be always in office.

The very essence of a free government consists in considering offices as public trusts, bestowed for the good of the country, and not for the benefit of an individual or a party.

A man ain't got no right to be a public man, unless he meets the public views.

He that puts on a public gown must put off a private person.

The public official must pick his way nicely, must learn to placate though not to yield too much, to have the art of honeyed words but not to seem neutral, and above all to keep constantly audible, visible, likable, even kissable.

A situation in a public office is secure, but laborious and mechanical, and without the two great springs of life, Hope and Fear.

Offices are as acceptable here as elsewhere, and whenever a man has cast a longing eye on them, a rottenness begins in his conduct.

When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property.