There is far more danger in a public monopoly than there is in a private monopoly, for when government goes into business it can always shift its losses to the taxpayer. The Government never really goes into business, for it never makes ends meet, and that is the first requisite of business. It just mixes a little business with a lot of politics, and no one ever gets a chance to find out what is actually going on.
—Thomas Edison (1847–1931) American Inventor, Scientist, Entrepreneur
Treaties are like roses and young girls—they last while they last.
—Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970) French General, Statesman
Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought to be.
—Sydney J. Harris (1917–86) American Essayist, Drama Critic
The world is waiting … for new saints, ecstatic men and women who are so deeply rooted in the love of God that they are free to imagine a new international order.
—Henri Nouwen (1932–96) Dutch Catholic Theologian, Writer
That the principle and construction contended for by sundry of the state legislatures, that the general government is the exclusive judge of the extent of the powers delegated to it, stop nothing short of despotism; since the discretion of those who administer the government, and not the constitution, would be the measure of their powers:
That the several states who formed that instrument, being sovereign and independent, have the unquestionable right to judge of its infraction; and that a nullification, by those sovereignties, of all unauthorized acts done under colour of that instrument, is the rightful remedy.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
A hated government does not long survive.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
We’ve been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people. Well, if no one among us is capable of government himself, then who among us has the capacity to govern someone else?
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State
My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
History, in general, only informs us what bad government is.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
When I am abroad, I always make it a rule to never criticize or attack the government of my own country. I make up for lost time when I come home.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President. Now I’m beginning to believe it.
—Clarence Darrow (1857–1938) American Civil Liberties Lawyer
The art of government is the organization of idolatry. The bureaucracy consists of functionaries; the aristocracy, of idols; the democracy, of idolaters. The populace cannot understand the bureaucracy: it can only worship the national idols.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Our government sprang from and was made for the people—not the people for the government. To them it owes an allegiance; from them it must derive its courage, strength, and wisdom.
—Andrew Johnson (1808–75) 17th American President
The accords were fig leaves of democratic procedure to hide the nakedness of Stalinist dictatorship
—George F. Kennan (1904–2005) American Writer, Diplomat
No man ever saw the people of whom he forms a part. No man ever saw a government. I live in the midst of the Government of the United States, but I never saw the Government of the United States.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
I would not give half a guinea to live under one form of government rather than another. It is of no moment to the happiness of an individual.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Govern a great nation as you would cook a small fish.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
If we have Senators and Congressmen there that can’t protect themselves against the evil temptations of lobbyists, we don’t need to change our lobbies, we need to change our representatives
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
We still find the greedy hand of government thrusting itself into every corner and crevice of industry, and grasping at the spoil of the multitude. Invention is continually exercised to furnish new pretenses for revenue and taxation. It watches prosperity as its prey and permits none to escape without a tribute
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
Government is either organized benevolence or organized madness; its peculiar magnitude permits no shading.
—John Updike (1932–2009) American Novelist, Poet, Short-Story Writer
The proper function of a government is to make it easy for the people to do good and difficult for them to do evil.
—William Ewart Gladstone (1809–98) English Liberal Statesman, Prime Minister
Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient. The objections which have been brought against a standing army, and they are many and weighty, and deserve to prevail, may also at last be brought against a standing government.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
The issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history, whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small elite.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
The divine right of kings may have been a plea for feeble tyrants, but the divine right of government is the keystone of human progress, and without it governments sink into police, and a nation is degraded into a mob.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The cadres of our Party and state are ordinary workers and not overlords sitting on the backs of the people.
—Mao Zedong (1893–1976) Chinese Statesman
Outside of its legitimate function, government does nothing as well or as economically as the private sector
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State
Every form of government tends to perish by excess of its basic principles.
—Will Durant (1885–1981) American Historian, Philosopher, Memoirist, Socialist
If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the general welfare, the government is no longer a limited one possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one subject to particular exceptions.
—James Madison (1751–1836) American Founding Father, Statesman, President