Government

Many people say that government is necessary because some men cannot be trusted to look after themselves, but anarchists say that government is harmful because no men can be trusted to look after anyone else. – Nicolas Walter, About Anarchism

Government is an unnecessary evil. Human beings, when accustomed to taking responsibility for their own behavior, can cooperate on a basis of mutual trust and helpfulness. – Fred Woodworth, The Match!, No.79

If human beings are fundamentally good, no government is necessary; if they are fundamentally bad, any government, being composed of human beings, would be bad also. – Fred Woodworth, The Match!, No.79

The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is unfit to govern. – Lord Acton, letter to Mary Gladstone, 24 April 1881

Economics is extremely useful as a form of employment for economists. – John Kenneth Galbraith

Democracy becomes a government of bullies tempered by editors. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

To rule is easy, to govern difficult. – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress. – Mark Twain

Here is my first principle of foreign policy: good government at home. – William Ewart Gladstone

Because of our Congressional committee system, our government is closer to a gerontocracy than a democracy. – Charles Frankel

I never would believe that Providence had sent a few men into the world, ready booted and spurred to ride, and millions ready saddled and bridled to be ridden. – Richard Rumbold, 1685

I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country. – Thomas Jefferson

Government is not reason it is not eloquent it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. – George Washington

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. – Winston Churchill

Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government. – Thomas Jefferson

Knowledge will forever govern ignorance and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives. – James Madison

Laws too gentle are seldom obeyed too severe, seldom executed. – Benjamin Franklin

Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made. – Otto von Bismarck

It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their own selfish purposes. – Andrew Jackson

So that the record of history is absolutely crystal clear. That there is no alternative way, so far discovered, of improving the lot of the ordinary people that can hold a candle to the productive activities that are unleashed by a free enterprise system. – Milton Friedman