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Quotes about government

575 quotes from 235 people

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America! America!
God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.
Katharine Lee Bates1859–1929America the Beautiful (1895)In context
When laws, customs, or institutions cease to be beneficial to man, they cease to be obligatory.
Henry Ward Beecher1813–1887Life Thoughts (1858), p. 54
- Laws
I think democracy is the most revolutionary thing in the world, because if you have power you use it to meet the needs of you and your community.
Tony Benn1925–2014Interview with Michael Moore in the movie Sicko (2007).
- Democracy
- Power
Every law is an evil, for every law is an infraction of liberty: And I repeat that government has but a choice of evils.
Jeremy Bentham1748–1832Principles of Legislation (1830), Ch. X: Analysis of Political Good and Evil; How they are spread in society
- Laws
- Liberty
Propaganda is the executive arm of the invisible government.
Edward Bernays1891–1995Propaganda (1928), p. 48
- Power
The engineering of consent is the very essence of the democratic process, the freedom to persuade and suggest.
Edward Bernays1891–1995“The Engineering of Consent”, Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 250 (March 1947), p. 113
- Democracy
We’ve learned again that democracy is precious; democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.
Joe Bidenborn 1942Joe Biden’s Inaugural Address (2021)
- Democracy
The only distinction that democracies reward is a high degree of conformity.
Ambrose Bierce1842–1914Epigrams, p. 358
- Democracy
Vote, v. The instrument and symbol of a freeman’s power to make a fool of himself and a wreck of his country.
Ambrose Bierce1842–1914The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)
- Comedy
- Voting
Insurrection, n. An unsuccessful revolution. Disaffection’s failure to substitute misrule for bad government.
Ambrose Bierce1842–1914The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)
- Comedy
Justice, n. A commodity which in a more or less adulterated condition the State sells to the citizen as a reward for his allegiance, taxes and personal service.
Ambrose Bierce1842–1914The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)
- Justice
The liberal military code makes provision for hanging many kinds of persons, and gentlemen are not excluded.
Ambrose Bierce1842–1914An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (1890)In context
- Laws
- War & Peace
Prisons are built with stones of law; brothels with bricks of religion.
William Blake1757–1827Proverbs of Hell, Line 21
- Laws
- Religion
It is fast approaching the point where I don’t want to elect anyone stupid enough to want the job.
EBErma Bombeck1927–1996
- Voting
The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments.
William Borah1865–1940Often credited to George Washington