Brian Eno:

Most of the smart people I know want nothing to do with politics.

Barack Obama:

It's not a fun time to be a member of Congress.

Decius:

I've come to the conclusion that you actually want shifty, dishonest politicians elected by an apathetic populace. This means that things are working.

Brian Eno:

Whatever the reasons for our quiescence, politics is still being done -- just not by us.

We expect other people to do it for us, and grumble when they get it wrong. We feel that our responsibility stops at the ballot box, if we even get that far. After that we're as laissez-faire as we can get away with.

What worries me is that while we're laissez-ing, someone else is faire-ing.

Decius:

Civil liberties really matter, and nobody cares.

Teju Cole:

Stately, plump Buck Mulligan came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of lather. A bomb whistled in. Blood on the walls. Fire from heaven.