Charles Caleb Colton Quotes

We suppose mankind more honest than they are.

Cynics regarded everybody as equally corrupt... Idealists regarded everybody as equally corrupt, except themselves.

We no longer admit any other truth than that which is expedient; for there is no worse error than the truth that may weaken the arm that is fighting.

I'm an idealist without illusions.

I have found little that is 'good' about human beings on the whole. In my experience most of them are trash, no matter whether they publicly subscribe to this or that ethical doctrine or to none at all. That is something that you cannot say aloud, or perhaps even think.

It is a just political maxim, that every man must be supposed a knave.

No man is so much a fool as not to have wit enough sometimes to be a knave; nor any so cunning a knave as not to have the weakness sometimes to play the fool.

A democracy, the realistic observer is forced to conclude, is likely to be idealistic in its feelings about itself, but imperialistic about its practice.

You can't be idealistic in this world and not be crazy.

I've never been a blind romantic.

I know how ridiculous this sounds because of the job I do but I don't believe in romanticism and make-believe.

All men profess honesty as long as they can. To believe all men honest would be folly. To believe none so is something worse.

Idealist: a cynic in the making.

I've never understood the division between so-called realists and so-called idealists.

Politics is not a game for naive thinkers. You may go in as an idealist, but you certainly won't come out as one.

When a man speaks of the need for realism one may be sure that this is always the prelude to some bloody deed.

An idealist believes the short run doesn’t count. A cynic believes the long run doesn’t matter. A realist believes that what is done or left undone in the short run determines the long run.

This is always the problem with building heroes. To keep them pure, we must build them stupid. The world is built on compromise and uncertainty, and such a place is too complex for heroes to flourish.

Cynic: an idealist whose rose-colored glasses have been removed, snapped in two and stomped into the ground, immediately improving his vision

God save me from idealists.

I'm sick of my own romanticism!

O what fine thought we had because we thought that the worst rogues and rascals had died out.

True knights protect the weak.” He snorted. “There are no true knights, no more than there are gods. If you can’t protect yourself, die and get out of the way of those who can. Sharp steel and strong arms rule this world, don’t ever believe any different.” Sansa backed away from him. “You’re awful.” “I’m honest. It’s the world that’s awful.

Don't ever make the mistake with people like me thinking we are looking for heroes. There aren't any and if there were, they would be killed immediately. I'm never surprised by bad behaviour. I expect it.

The days of idealism had gone. Only life was left.