Government

Explore 53 quotes about Government

In such condition there is no place for industry, because the fruit thereof is uncertain... And the life of man solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.

Thomas Hobbes

Leviathan

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Topic

State of nature Anarchy Government

Author

Thomas Hobbes

Source

Leviathan

Genre

Political literature Philosophical literature

Language

English

Time

1651 1650s 17th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Commonwealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil. London: Andrew Crooke, 1651, pt. 1, ch. 13.

Current Citation

Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan, edited by Christopher Brooke. Penguin Classics, 2017, pt. 1, ch. 13.

Democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.

Winston Churchill

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Topic

Democracy Government Politics

Speaker

Winston Churchill

Medium

Speech

Language

English

Time

1947 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Churchill, Winston. Address in the House of Commons. House of Commons meeting. 11 Nov. 1947, The Palace of Westminster, London, England, UK.

Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice, without constraint.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist 15

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Topic

Political theory Government Politics Human nature

Author

Alexander Hamilton

Source

Federalist 15 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1787 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Hamilton, Alexander [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 15: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union." Independent Journal, 1 Dec. 1787.

Current Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "No. 15: Its great defect: can only legislate for states.--Hamilton." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

The State is not "abolished", it withers away.

Friedrich Engels

Anti-Duhring

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Topic

Political theory Communism Government Politics

Author

Friedrich Engels

Source

Anti-Duhring

Genre

Political literature Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Bad predictions Prophecies and predictions

Language

German

Time

1878 1870s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Engels, Frederick. "Herrn Eugen Dührings Umwälzung der Wissenschaft [Herr Eugen Dühring's Revolution in Science]." Vorwärts, 1878.

Current Citation

Engels, Frederick. "Anti-During." Karl Marx, Frederick Engels: Collected Works. Vol. 25, Int Pub Co Inc, 1987, pt. 3, ch. 2.

It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary.

James Madison

Federalist 51

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Topic

Political theory Politics Government Human nature

Author

James Madison

Source

Federalist 51 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1788 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Madison, James [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 51, The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments." New York Packet, 8 Feb. 1788.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "No. 51: How to maintain: make the parts check each other. Also, a federal system divides power further.--Madison (or Hamilton)." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit.

James Madison

Federalist 51

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Topic

Political theory Justice Political progress Progress Government

Author

James Madison

Source

Federalist 51 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1788 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Madison, James [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 51, The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments." New York Packet, 8 Feb. 1788.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "No. 51: How to maintain: make the parts check each other. Also, a federal system divides power further.--Madison (or Hamilton)." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

The best government is that which governs least.

John L. O'Sullivan

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Topic

Limited government Government Political theory Politics

Author

John L. O'Sullivan

Source

United States Magazine and Democratic Review

Medium

Magazine

Language

English

Time

1837 1830s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

O'Sullivan, John L. United States Magazine and Democratic Review. Washington DC: Langtree and O'Sullivan, Oct. 1837, introduction.

Whoever desires to found a state and give it laws, must start with assuming that all men are bad and ever ready to display their vicious nature, whenever they may find occasions for it.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Discourses on Livy

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Topic

Political theory Government Human nature

Author

Niccolo Machiavelli

Source

Discourses on Livy

Genre

Political literature Philosophical literature

Language

Italian

Time

1531 1530s 16th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Machiavelli, Niccolò. Discorsi sopra la prima deca di Tito Livio [Discourses on the First Ten of Titus Livy]. Papal Privilege, 1531, bk. 1, ch. 3

Current Citation

Machiavelli, Niccolo. Discourses on Livy, translated by Julia Conaway Bondanella and Peter Bondanella. Oxford University Press, 2009, bk. 1, ch. 3.

If all men were just, there still would be some, though not so much, need of government.

Abraham Lincoln

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Topic

Government Human nature Political theory Politics

Author

Abraham Lincoln

Source

Journals of Abraham Lincoln

Medium

Personal journal

Language

English

Time

1854 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Fragment: On Government." 1 July 1854?

Current Citation

Lincoln, Abraham. "Fragment on Government, 1854?" Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1832-1858, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher. Library of America, 1989.

There are no necessary evils in the government. Its evils exist only in its abuses. If it would confine itself to equal protection, and, as Heaven does its rains, shower its favor alike on the high and the low, the rich and the poor, it would be an unqualified blessing.

Andrew Jackson

More information about this quote

Topic

Government Political theory

Speaker

Andrew Jackson

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1832 1830s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Jackson, Andrew. Veto message on bank bill. Congress meeting. 10 July 1832, U.S. Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

England is the mother of parliaments.

John Bright

Speech in Birmingham, January 18, 1865

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Topic

England Government

Speaker

John Bright

Source

Speech in Birmingham, January 18, 1865

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1865 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Bright, John. Speech in Birmingham. 18 Jan. 1865, Town Hall, Birmingham, England, UK.

The government strong enough to give you what you want is strong enough to take it all away.

Barry Goldwater

More information about this quote

Topic

Limited government Role of government Government Political theory Politics

Speaker

Barry Goldwater

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1964 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Goldwater, Barry. Campaign speech. 21 Oct. 1964.

Now there is one outstanding important fact regarding Spaceship Earth, and that is that no instruction book came with it.

Buckminster Fuller

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Topic

Man and nature Government

Author

Buckminster Fuller

Source

Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth

Language

English

Time

1969 1960s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Fuller, Richard Buckminster. Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth. Simon and Schuster, 1969, ch. 4.

The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or composite, are good laws and good arms; and as there cannot be good laws where the state is not well armed, it follows that where they are well armed they have good laws.

Niccolo Machiavelli

The Prince

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Topic

Government Political theory Law

Author

Niccolo Machiavelli

Source

The Prince

Medium

Treatise

Genre

Political literature Philosophical literature

Language

Italian

Time

1532 1530s 16th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Machiavelli, Niccolò. Il Principe [The Prince]. Rome: Antonio Blado d'Asola, 1532.

Current Citation

Machiavelli, Nicolò. The Prince, translated by Peter Bondanella. Oxford University Press, 2005.

Until philosophers are kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy, and political greatness and wisdom meet in one, and those commoner natures who pursue either to the exclusion of the other are compelled to stand aside, cities will never have rest from their evils.

Socrates

Quoted in Republic, by Plato

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Topic

Political theory Philosophers Government Political philosophy Politics

Speaker

Socrates

Author

Plato

Source

Republic

Medium

Philosophical dialogue Dialogue

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

375 BC 370s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Πολιτεία [Republic], written by Plato. c. 375 BCE.

Current Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Republic, written by Plato, translated by Desmond Lee. Penguin Classics, 2007.

There is no art which one government sooner learns of another, than that of draining money from the pockets of the people.

Adam Smith

The Wealth of Nations

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Topic

Taxes Government

Author

Adam Smith

Source

The Wealth of Nations

Genre

Economic literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Smith, Adam. The Wealth of Nations. Vol. 2, London: W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1776, bk. 5, ch. 2, appendix.

Current Citation

Smith, Adam. The Wealth of Nations, edited by Edwin Cannan. The Modern Library, bk. 5, ch. 2, appendix.

Sometimes it is said that man can not be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others? Or have we found angels in the forms of kings to govern him? Let history answer this question.

Thomas Jefferson

First Inaugural Address of Thomas Jefferson

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Topic

Political theory Government

Speaker

Thomas Jefferson

Source

First Inaugural Address of Thomas Jefferson Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1801 1800s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "First Inaugural Address." 4 Mar. 1801, Senate Chamber, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

During the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called war; and such a war as is of every man against every man.

Thomas Hobbes

Leviathan

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Topic

State of nature Government Political theory Politics

Author

Thomas Hobbes

Source

Leviathan

Genre

Political literature Philosophical literature

Language

English

Time

1651 1650s 17th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Commonwealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil. London: Andrew Crooke, 1651, pt. 1, ch. 13.

Current Citation

Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan, edited by Christopher Brooke. Penguin Classics, 2017, pt. 1, ch. 13.

Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.

Thomas Paine

Common Sense

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Topic

Downsides of government Government Politics

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

Common Sense

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas [published anonymously]. Common Sense. Philadelphia: R. Bell, sect. 1.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "Common Sense." Rights of Man, Common Sense, and Other Political Writings, edited by Mark Philp. Oxford University Press, 2009, sect. 1.

For there is nothing that happens on earth that is more welcome to that supreme God who rules the whole universe than the institutions and congregations of men united by a sense of right, which are called states.

Cicero

On the Commonwealth

More information about this quote

Topic

Government Politics

Author

Cicero

Source

On the Commonwealth

Medium

Dialogue

Genre

Political literature

Language

Latin

Time

51 BC 50s BC 1st century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Cicero, Marcus Tullius. De re publica [On the Commonwealth]. c. 51 BC, bk. 6, ch. 13.

Current Citation

Cicero, Marcus Tullius. "The Republic." The Republic and The Laws, translated by Niall Rudd. Oxford University Press, 2009, bk. 6, ch. 13.