There is no nonsense so arrant that it cannot be made the creed of the vast majority by adequate government action. Bertrand Russell
It is what we prevent, rather than what we do that counts most in Government. W L Mackenzie King
That government is best which governs least. Henry David Thoreau
Wherever you have an efficient government you have a dictatorship. Harry S. Truman
A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend upon the support of Paul. George Bernard Shaw
The greatest advances of civilization, whether in architecture or painting, in science and literature, in industry or agriculture, have never come from centralised government. Milton Friedman
I believe there’s something out there watching over us. Unfortunately, it’s the government. Woody Allen
Fear is the foundation of most governments. John Adams
There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty. John Adams
Governments never learn. Only people learn. Milton Friedman
The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem. Milton Friedman
There are no necessary evils in government. Its evils exist only in its abuses. Andrew Jackson
Government, is the last analysis, is organized opinion. Where there is little or no public opinion, there is likely to be bad government. W L Mackenzie King
The whole duty of government is to prevent crime and to preserve contracts. Lord Melbourne
The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’ Ronald Reagan
Remember that a government big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take away everything you have. Gerald R Ford
Good government is the outcome of private virtue. John Jay Chapman
The important thing for government is not to do things which individuals are doing already and to do them a little better or a little worse; but to do those things which at present are not done at all. John Maynard Keynes
The government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. Ronald Reagan
Do not criticize your government when out of the country. Never cease to do so when at home. Winston Churchill.
I believe that the essence of government lies with unceasing concern for the welfare and dignity and decency and innate integrity of life for every individual. Lyndon Baines Johnson
It is a maxim of wise government to deal with men not as they ought to be but as they are. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
In the long run every government is the exact symbol of its people, with their wisdom and unwisdom. Thomas Carlyle
Compromise is the oil that makes governments go. Gerald R Ford
All government, – indeed, every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue and every prudent act, – is founded on compromise and barter. Edmund Burke
The government doesn’t solve problems; it subsidizes them. Ronald Reagan
No government has the right to decide on the truth of scientific principles, nor to prescribe in any way the character of the questions investigated. Neither may a government determine the aesthetic value of artistic creations, nor limit the forms of literacy or artistic expression. Nor should it pronounce on the validity of economic, historic, religious, or philosophical doctrines. Instead it has a duty to its citizens to maintain the freedom, to let those citizens contribute to the further adventure and the development of the human race. Richard Feynman
The best government rests on the people, and not on the few, on persons and not on property, on the free development of public opinion and not on authority. George Bancroft
During a recent panel on the numerous failures of American journalism, I proposed that almost all stories about government should begin: ‘Look out! They’re about to smack you around again!’ Molly Ivins
Any nation that can survive what we have lately in the way of government, is on the high road to permanent glory. Molly Ivins
A government is not legitimate merely because it exists. Jeane Kirkpatrick
To be governed is to be watched, inspected, spied upon, directed, law-driven, numbered, regulated, enrolled, indoctrinated, preached at, controlled, checked, estimated, valued, censured, commanded, by creatures who have neither the right nor the wisdom nor the virtue to do so. To be governed is to be at every operation, at every transaction noted, registered, counted, taxed, stamped, measured, numbered, assessed, licensed, authorised, admonished, prevented, forbidden, reformed, corrected, punished. It is, under pretext of public utility, and in the name of the public interest, to be placed under contribution, drilled, fleeced, exploited, monopolised, extorted from, squeezed, hoaxed, robbed; then, at the slightest resistance, the first word of complaint, to be repressed, fined, vilified, harassed, hunted down, abused, clubbed, disarmed, bound, choked, imprisoned, judged, condemned, shot, deported, sacrificed, sold, betrayed; and to crown all, mocked, ridiculed, derided, outraged, dishonoured. That is government; that is its justice; that is its morality. Pierre Joseph Proudhon
Whoever puts his hand on me to govern me is a usurper and a tyrant. I declare him my enemy. Pierre Joseph Proudhon
Everything government touches turns to crap. Ringo Starr
An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger. Confucius