That the General Assembly of Virginia, doth unequivocally express a firm resolution to maintain and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of this State, against every aggression either foreign or domestic … That this Assembly doth explicitly and peremptorily declare, that it views the powers of the federal government, as resulting from the compact, to which the states are parties; as limited by the plain sense and intention of the instrument constituting the compact; as no further valid than they are authorized by the grants enumerated in that compact; and that in case of deliberate, palpable, and dangerous exercise of other powers, not granted by the said compact, the states who are parties thereto, have the right, and are in duty bound, to interpose for arresting the progress of the evil, and for maintaining within their respective limits, the authorities, rights and liberties appertaining to them.
—James Madison (1751–1836) American Founding Father, Statesman, President
I consider the foundation of the Constitution as laid on this ground that ‘all powers not delegated to the United States, by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states or to the people.’ To take a single step beyond the boundaries thus specially drawn around the powers of Congress, is to take possession of a boundless field of power not longer susceptible of any definition
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
No government can sell its nation on the backs of its people.
—Fidel Castro (1927–2016) Cuban Statesman, Revolutionary
Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain method of bringing either into contempt. The weak must have their inducements to admiration as well as the wise; and it is the business of a sensible government to impress all ranks with a sense of subordination, whether this be effected by a diamond, or a virtuous edict, a sumptuary law, or a glass necklace.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
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
If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost.
—Aristotle (384BCE–322BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scholar
The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem.
—Milton Friedman (1912–2006) American Economist
It is easy to rule over the good.
—Plautus (Titus Maccius Plautus) (c.250–184 BCE) Roman Comic Playwright
No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth!
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State
The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
You will find that the State is the kind of organization which, though it does big things badly, does small things badly, too.
—John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) Canadian-Born American Economist
If, in my retirement to the humble station of a private citizen, I am accompanied with the esteem and approbation of my fellow citizens, trophies obtained by the bloodstained steel, or the tattered flags of the tented field, will never be envied. The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
We have seen the mere distinction of colour made in the most enlightened period of time, a ground of the most oppressive dominion ever exercised by man over man
—James Madison (1751–1836) American Founding Father, Statesman, President
The only good bureaucrat is one with a pistol at his head. Put it in his hand and it’s good-by to the Bill of Rights
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
Let the people know the truth and the country is safe.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
It would be foolish to suggest that government is a good custodian of aesthetic goals. But, there is no alternative to the state.
—John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) Canadian-Born American Economist
It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Here is my first principle of foreign policy: good government at home
—William Ewart Gladstone (1809–98) English Liberal Statesman, Prime Minister
The experience of democracy is like the experience of life itself-always changing, infinite in its variety, sometimes turbulent and all the more valuable for having been tested by adversity.
—Jimmy Carter (b.1924) American Head of State, Military Leader
One of the greatest delusions in the world is the hope that the evils in this world are to be cured by legislation
—Thomas Reid (1710–96) Scottish Philosopher, Clergyman
Good government is the outcome of private virtue.
—John Jay Chapman (1862–1933) American Biographer, Poet, Essayist, Writer
My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State
It is very easy to accuse a government of imperfection, for all mortal things are full of it.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
The worst thing in the world, next to anarchy, is government.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
When someone asked Abraham Lincoln, after he was elected president, what he was going to do about his enemies, he replied, “I am going to destroy them. I am going to make them my friends.”
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition to put chains upon their own appetites; in proportion as their love of justice is above their rapacity; in proportion as their soundness and sobriety of understanding is above their vanity and presumption; in proportion as they are more disposed to listen to the counsels of the wise and good, in preference to the flattery of knaves. Society cannot exist unless a controlling power upon the will and appetite is placed somewhere; and the less of it there is within, the more there must be of it without. It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things, that men of intemperate habits cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
I see,… and with the deepest affliction, the rapid strides with which the federal branch of our government is advancing towards the usurpation of all the rights reserved to the States, and the consolidation in itself of all powers, foreign and domestic; and that, too, by constructions which, if legitimate, leave no limits to their power… It is but too evident that the three ruling branches of the Federal government are in combination to strip their colleagues, the State authorities, of the powers reserved by them, and to exercise themselves all functions foreign and domestic
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
The less of government the better, if society be kept in peace and prosperity.
—William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) American Unitarian Theologian, Poet
Talk is cheap, except when Congress does it.
—Cullen Hightower (b.1923) American Humorist
A government, for protecting business only, is but a carcass, and soon falls by its own corruption and decay.
—Amos Bronson Alcott (1799–1888) American Teacher, Writer, Philosopher
Government is not mere advice; it is authority, with power to enforce its laws.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
The basis of our government being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers wthout government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Economics is extremely useful as a form of employment for economists
—John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006) Canadian-Born American Economist
Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature … If the next centennial does not find us a great nation…it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.
—James A. Garfield (1831–81) American Head of State, Lawyer, Educator
If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go: perchance it will wear smooth,—certainly the machine will wear out.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien-philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
In America every woman has her set of girl-friends; some are cousins, the rest are gained at school. These form a permanent committee who sit on each other’s affairs, who “come out” together, marry and divorce together, and who end as those groups of bustling, heartless well-informed club-women who govern society. Against them the Couple of Ehepaar is helpless and Man in their eyes but a biological interlude.
—Cyril Connolly (1903–74) British Literary Critic, Writer
Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Governments, like clocks, go from the motion men give them, and as governments are made and moved by men, so by them they are ruined too. Wherefore governments rather depend upon men, than men upon governments. Let men be good, and the government cannot be bad; if it be ill, they will cure it. But if men be bad, let the government be never so good, they will endeavour to warp and spoil it to their turn.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Whenever is found what is called a paternal government, there is found state education. It has been discovered that the best way to ensure implicit obedience is to commence tyranny in the nursery
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Things in our country run in spite of government, not by aid of it.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
That no free government, or the blessing of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue, and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.
—George Mason (1725–92) American Revolutionary Statesman
The art of government is not to let me grow stale.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
I want to talk to these people because they stay in power and you change all the time.
—Nikita Khrushchev (1894–1971) Russian Head of State, Political leader
All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree
—James Madison (1751–1836) American Founding Father, Statesman, President
The law is sic a ass – a idiot.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist