The United States are a political state, or organized society, whose end is government, for the security, welfare, and happiness of all who live under its protection.
—William H. Seward (1801–72) American Secretary of State, Governor of New York
I have always held firmly to the thought that each one of us can do a little to bring some portion of misery to an end.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Philosopher, Musician, Physician
Religion was nearly dead because there was no longer real belief in future life; but something was struggling to take its place—service—social service—the ants creed, the bees creed.
—John Galsworthy (1867–1933) English Novelist, Playwright
The real “haves” are they who can acquire freedom, self-confidence, and even riches without depriving others of them. They acquire all of these by developing and applying their potentialities. On the other hand, the real “have notch” are they who cannot have aught except by depriving others of it. They can feel free only by diminishing the freedom of others, self-confident by spreading fear and dependence among others, and rich by making others poor.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
If someday they say of me that in my work I have contributed something to the welfare and happiness of my fellow man, I shall be satisfied.
—George Westinghouse (1846–1914) American Inventor, Manufacturer
Legal plunder can be committed in an infinite number of ways; hence, there are an infinite number of plans for organizing it: tariffs, protection, bonuses, subsidies, incentives, the progressive income tax, free education, the right to employment, the right to profit, the right to wages, the right to relief, the right to the tools of production, interest free credit, etc., etc. And it the aggregate of all these plans, in respect to what they have in common, legal plunder, that goes under the name of socialism.
—Frederic Bastiat (1801–50) French Political Economist
Civil liberty is the status of the man who is guaranteed by law and civil institutions the exclusive employment of all his own powers for his own welfare.
—William Graham Sumner (1840–1910) American Polymath, Historian, Sociologist, Anthropologist
A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away.
—Barry Goldwater (1909–98) American Politician, Businessperson, Representative
A liberty subject to law and subordinate to the common welfare.
—Bainbridge Colby (1869–1950) American Politician
We were sent to this country by the President, who desires to promote the welfare of Japan, and are quite different from the ambassadors of other countries.
—Townsend Harris
And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
We have no more right to consume happiness without producing it than to consume wealth without producing it.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Social Security is a government program with a constituency made up of the old, the near old and those who hope or fear to grow old. After 215 years of trying, we have finally discovered a special interest that includes 100 percent of the population. Now we can vote ourselves rich.
—P. J. O’Rourke (1947–2022) American Journalist, Political Satirist
The Greeks… labored under the delusion that their democracy was a guarantee of peace and plenty, not realizing that unrestrained majority rule always destroys freedom, puts the minority at the mercy of the mob, and works at cross-purposes to the effective use of human energy and individual initiative.
—Henry Grady Weaver (1889–1949) American Business Executive
If I am outspoken of the dangers of intemperance to members of our armed forces, it is because we are all especially concerned for the welfare of those who are risking their lives in the cause of freedom.
—William Lyon Mackenzie King (1874–1950) Canadian Politician, 10th Prime Minister of Canada
And here we encounter the seeds of government disaster and collapse—the kind that wrecked ancient Rome and every other civilization that allowed a socio political monster called the welfare state to exist.
—Barry Goldwater (1909–98) American Politician, Businessperson, Representative
Don’t gag people with welfare, they’ll never make an effort.
—Unknown
One of the sad signs of our times is that we have diminished those who produce, subsidized those who refuse to produce, and canonized those who complain.
—Thomas Sowell (b.1930) American Conservative Economist, Political Commentator
The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his.
—George S. Patton (1885–1945) American Military Leader
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
—William J. H. Boetcker (1873–1962) American Presbyterian Minister
And for man to look upon himself as a capital good, even if it did not impair his freedom, may seem to debase him… by investing in themselves, people can enlarge the range of choice available to them. It is one way free men can enhance their welfare.
—Theodore Schultz (1902–98) American Economist
We take care of our health, we lay up money, we make our roof tight and our clothing sufficient, but who provides wisely that he shall not be wanting in the best property of all—friends?
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
If women have young children, they are one man away from welfare.
—Gloria Steinem (b.1934) American Feminist, Journalist, Activist, Political Advocate
The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
A welfare state is frightened of every poor person who tries to get in and every rich person who tries to get out.
—Harry Browne (1933–2006) American Author, Economist, Politician
Government price-fixing once started, has alike no justice and no end. It is an economic folly from which this country has every right to be spared.
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American Head of State, Lawyer
The society that puts equality before freedom will wind up with neither. but the society that puts freedom before equality will wind up with a great measure of both.
—Milton Friedman (1912–2006) American Economist
The one predominant duty is to find one’s work and do it.
—Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860–1935) American Feminist, Writer
Compassion is the use of public funds to buy votes.
—Thomas Sowell (b.1930) American Conservative Economist, Political Commentator
Mothers born on relief have their babies on relief. Nothingness, truly, seems to be the condition of these New York people. They are nomads going from one rooming house to another, looking for a toilet that functions.
—Elizabeth Hardwick (1916–2007) American Critic, Essayist
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