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Government Quotes

“There is a reason for the affected profession of " anarchist sympathies" among Tories and grandees, and of " libertarian principles" by Hobbesian yahoos of the right. Among the former, one sees the upholding of the view that a gentleman's business and property are his own, and none of the government's. Among the latter, a distaste for democracy, for taxation, and for the need to consult others about the planet.”

Needs Reason Government Views Principles Democracy Planets Property Libertarian Profession Former Gentleman Latter Affected Taxation Anarchist Distaste

Book:For the Sake of Argument: Essays and Minority Reports

Source: For the Sake of Argument: Essays and Minority Reports

“Good government is known from bad government by this infallible test: that under the former the labouring people are well fed and well clothed, and under the latter, they are badly fed and badly clothed.”

People Wells Government Known Tests Former Latter Feds Infallible Bad Government

Book:The Progress of a Plough-boy to a Seat in Parliament: As Exemplified in the History of the Life of William Cobbett, Member for Oldham

Source: The Progress of a Plough-boy to a Seat in Parliament: As Exemplified in the History of the Life of William Cobbett, Member for Oldham

“In times of political confusion, and under an arbitrary government, many will prefer to keep their capital inactive, concealed, and unproductive, either of profit or gratification, rather than run the risk of its display. This latter evil is never felt under a good government.”

Government Running Political Evil Felt Risk Profit Confusion Latter Display Arbitrary Gratification Concealed Unproductive

Book:A Treatise on Political Economy; Or, The Production, Distribution, and Consumption of Wealth

Source: A Treatise on Political Economy; Or, The Production, Distribution, and Consumption of Wealth

“In the latter case it is often government that organizes the conquest, and religion that justifies it.”

Government Religion Cases Latter Justify Organize Conquest

Book:Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies

Source: Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies

“If people want consultative government, the price is increased complexity and delay in arriving at decisions. If they want speed of government, then they must accept a greater degree of authoritarianism. I suspect that the real answer is that most people prefer the latter so long, that is, as government's decisions conform with their own views.”

“I am convinced that those societies (such as the Native American peoples) which live without government enjoy in their general mass an infinitely greater degree of happiness than those who live under the European governments. Among the former, public opinion is in the place of law, & restrains morals as powerfully as laws ever did anywhere. Among the latter, under pretence of governing they have divided their nations into two classes, wolves & sheep. I do not exaggerate.”

Two Government Law Nations Enjoy Moral Opinion Class Greater Degrees Mass Convinced Former Native Latter Divided Sheep Native American Public Opinion Governing Pretence

Author:Thomas Jefferson

“As to the latter point - that by having a child in America you are somehow starving a child in Bangladesh - remember that agricultural economics is not a zero-sum game. Farmers want to make a living, so as demand increases, so does production. Not only that, but agricultural productivity has increased so rapidly that in some countries the government pays farmers not to plant crops in an effort to keep food prices from dropping.”

“With respect to our State and federal governments, I do not think their relations correctly understood by foreigners. They generally suppose the former subordinate to the latter. But this is not the case. They are co-ordinate departments of one simple and integral whole.”

Thinking States Whole Government Simple Cases Understood Relation Former Department Latter Federal Government Foreigners Subordinates

Book:The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of 1798 and '99: With Jefferson's Original Draught Thereof. Also, Madison's Report, Calhoun's Address, Resolutions of the Several States in Relation to State Rights. With Other Documents in Support of the Jeffersonian Doctrines of '98

Source: The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of 1798 and '99: With Jefferson's Original Draught Thereof. Also, Madison's Report, Calhoun's Address, Resolutions of the Several States in Relation to State Rights. With Other Documents in Support of the Jeffersonian Doctrines of '98