To form a new government requires infinite care and unbounded attention; for if the foundation is badly laid, the superstructure must be bad.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to John Augustine Washington, May 31, 1776
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
THOMAS JEFFERSON, Declaration of Independence
Prudence ... will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
THOMAS JEFFERSON, Declaration of Independence
As soon as we abandon our own reason, and are content to rely upon authority, there is no end to our troubles.
BERTRAND RUSSELL, An Outline of Intellectual Rubbish
Frankly, I'm fed up with politicians in Washington lecturing the rest of us about family values. Our families have values. But our government doesn’t.
BILL CLINTON, speech at Democratic National Convention, July 16, 1992
Government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem.
RONALD REAGAN, First Inaugural Address, January 20, 1981
I have nothing but contempt for the kind of governor who is afraid, for whatever reason, to follow the course that he knows is best for the State; and as for the man who sets private friendship above the public welfare -- I have no use for him either.
Mankind, when left to themselves, are unfit for their own government.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter, Oct. 31, 1786
Governments have a tendency not to solve problems, only to rearrange them.
RONALD REAGAN
If men were angels, no government would be necessary.
JAMES MADISON, The Federalist, Feb. 6, 1788
When a country is well governed, poverty and a mean condition are something to be ashamed of. When a country is ill governed, riches and honors are something to be ashamed of.
CONFUCIUS, The Wisdom of Confucius
Ceremonies are the first thing to be attended to in the practice of government.
CONFUCIUS, The Wisdom of Confucius
The great fish swallow up the small; and he who is most strenuous for the rights of the people, when vested with power, is as eager after the prerogatives of government.
ABIGAIL ADAMS, letter to John Adams, Nov. 27, 1775
All kings is mostly rapscallions.
MARK TWAIN, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
In all governments, there must of necessity be both the law and the sword; laws without arms would give us not liberty, but licentiousness; and arms without laws, would produce not subjection, but slavery. The law, therefore, should be unto the sword what the handle is to the hatchet; it should direct the stroke and temper the force.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON, Lacon
We are not to expect perfection in this world; but mankind, in modern times, have apparently made some progress in the science of government.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to the Marquis de Lafayette, Feb. 7, 1788
A civil servant doesn't make jokes.
EUGENE IONESCO, The Killer
A government must govern, must prescribe and enforce laws within its sphere or cease to be a government. Moreover, the individual must be independent and free within his own sphere or cease to be an individual. The fundamental question ... is now, and always will be through what adjustments, by what actions, these principles may be applied.
CALVIN COOLIDGE, speech, May 30, 1924
That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves.
While legislation can stimulate and encourage, the real creative ability which builds up and develops the country, and in general makes human existence more tolerable and life more complete, has to be supplied by the genius of the people themselves. The Government can supply no substitute for enterprise.
CALVIN COOLIDGE, speech, Jul. 4, 1924
If the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists - to protect them and to promote their common welfare - all else is lost.
BARACK OBAMA, speech, Aug. 28, 2006
There is good government when those who are near are made happy, and when those who are afar are attracted.
CONFUCIUS, The Wisdom of Confucius
Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, attributed, Frank J. Wilstach's A Dictionary of Similes
Government is merely a servant – merely a temporary servant; it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn’t. Its function is to obey orders, not originate them.
MARK TWAIN, The Bible According to Mark Twain
BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU.
GEORGE ORWELL, Nineteen Eighty-Four
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