Government Quotes

As for politics, I'm an anarchist. I hate governments and rules and fetters. Can't stand caged animals. People must be free.

Patriotism in its simplest, clearest, and most indubitable meaning is nothing but an instrument for the attainment of the government's ambitious and mercenary aims, and a renunciation of human dignity, common sense, and conscience by the governed, and a slavish submission to those who hold power. That is what is really preached wherever patriotism is championed. Patriotism is slavery.

Government is an association of men who do violence to the rest of us.

Governments not only are not necessary, but are harmful and most highly immoral institutions.

It is a bad thing to perform menial duties even for the sake of freedom; to fight with pinpricks, instead of with clubs. I have become tired of hypocrisy, stupidity, gross arbitrariness, and of our bowing and scraping, dodging, and hair-splitting over words. Consequently, the government has given me back my freedom.

A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.

You have a choice of trusting the natural stability of gold, or the honesty and intelligence of members of government.

Just as it is impossible to know when a swimming fish is drinking water, so it is impossible to find out when a government servant is stealing money.

Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being's entitlement by virtue of his humanity.

It may be long before the law of love will be recognized in international affairs. The machinery's of government stand between and hide the hearts of one people from those of another.

A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free.

While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration... can very seriously injure the government

I go for all sharing the privileges of the government who assist in bearing its burthens.

In all that the people can individually do as well for themselves, government ought not to interfere.

According to our ancient faith, the just powers of government are derived from the consent of the governed.

The people of the South have too much of good sense, and good temper, to attempt the ruin of the government ... At least, so I hope and believe.

My opinion is that no state can, in any way lawfully, get out of the Union, without the consent of the others; and that it is the duty of the President, and other government functionaries to run the machine as it is.

What is our present condition? We have just carried an election on principles fairly stated to the people. Now we are told in advance, the government shall be broken up, unless we surrender to those we have beaten, before we take the offices.

There will be no blood shed unless it be forced upon the Government. The Government will not use force unless force is used against it.

It is a struggle for maintaining in the world, that form and substance of government whose leading object is to elevate the condition of men.