Our nation is built on the bedrock principle that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.
The worst thing in this world, next to anarchy, is government.
The people are the government, administering it by their agents; they are the government, the sovereign power.
The greatest advances of civilization, whether in architecture or painting, in science and literature, in industry or agriculture, have never come from centralized government.
People try to live within their income so they can afford to pay taxes to a government that can’t live within its income.
I’m tired of hearing it said that democracy doesn’t work. Of course it doesn’t work. We are supposed to work it.
An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.
Mankind, when left to themselves, are unfit for their own government.
Ancient Rome declined because it had a Senate, now what’s going to happen to us with both a House and a Senate?
If we can but prevent the government from wasting the labours of the people, under the pretence of taking care of them, they must become happy.
Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced.
Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.
To rule is easy, to govern difficult.
As a governor, I am naturally inclined to focus on the domestic side of protecting the United States.
I believe there is something out there watching us. Unfortunately, it’s the government.
When I am abroad, I always make it a rule never to criticize or attack the government of my own country. I make up for lost time when I come home.
All socialism involves slavery.
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.
Washington is a place where politicians don’t know which way is up and taxes don’t know which way is down.
Nothing turns out to be so oppressive and unjust as a feeble government.
Are we still a country that takes risks, that innovates, that believes anything is possible? Or are we a country that is resigned to whatever liberty the government decides to dish out?
America is a land of taxation that was founded to avoid taxation.
The instant formal government is abolished, society begins to act. A general association takes place, and common interest produces common security.
The soviet people want full-blooded and unconditional democracy.
It is not good to have a rule of many.
