940 private quotes tagged government

“It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.” — Thomas Jefferson

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“I believe there is something out there watching us. Unfortunately, it's the government.” — Woody Allen

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“Democracy is the art and science of running the circus from the monkey cage.” — H. L. Mencken

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“The republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind.” — Thomas Jefferson

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“The worst thing in this world, next to anarchy, is government.” — Henry Ward Beecher

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“A President needs political understanding to run the government, but he may be elected without it.” — Harry S. Truman

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“In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one class of citizens to give to another.” — Voltaire

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“Protecting the rights of even the least individual among us is basically the only excuse the government has for even existing.” — Ronald Reagan

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“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.” — Winston Churchill

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“The Chinese government wants me to say that for many centuries Tibet has been part of China. Even if I make that statement, many people would just laugh. And my statement will not change past history. History is history.” — Dalai Lama

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“Patriotism is not obedience to government. Patriotism is obedience to the principals for which government is supposed to stand.” — Howard Zinn

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“Pretty much at all times music motivates me. How can I say this without sounding in any way proud of myself? Obviously I've always written songs that are critical of our government, and talk about our times. Hopefully you attempt to be timeless while doing it.” — Eddie Vedder

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“If you think of yourselves as helpless and ineffectual, it is certain that you will create a despotic government to be your master. The wise despot, therefore, maintains among his subjects a popular sense that they are helpless and ineffectual.” — Frank Herbert

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“Government is an association of men who do violence to the rest of us.” — Leo Tolstoy

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“There are many people who feel that it is useless and futile to continue talking about peace and non-violence against a government whose only reply is savage attacks on an unarmed and defenceless people.” — Nelson Mandela

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“Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.” — Abraham Lincoln

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“The taxpayer - that's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination.” — Ronald Reagan

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“A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference.” — Thomas Jefferson

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“You know, I have found a new way to get high and stay spaced out for hours on end, and the government can't stop me... It's called senility.” — Robert Anton Wilson

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“The punishment which the wise suffer who refuse to take part in the government, is to live under the government of worse men.” — Plato

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“Democracy is a form of government that substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.” — George Bernard Shaw

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“Loyalty to the country always. Loyalty to the government when it deserves it.” — Mark Twain

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“If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in government to the utmost.” — Aristotle

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“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.” — John F. Kennedy

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“An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.” — Confucius

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