Government quotes, about political views and opinions

The following are a number of quotations about government, patriotism, and political issues such as small government. I have included some comments of my own and the article largely reflects my opinion. Anyone who has a problem with that, I suggest they not read any further.

"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests."

Patrick Henry
American lawyer, patriot, and orator, symbol of the American struggle for liberty, 1736-1799

I graduated from Patrick Henry High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Out team was called the Patriots. Not too much high school stuck with me but the symbol of patriotism did.

“Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.”

Abraham Lincoln quotes (American 16th US President (1861-65), who brought about the emancipation of the slaves. 1809-1865)

I agree with Lincoln. While other countries have traditions, and to some extent, homogeneous populations the United States does not. The constitution is what holds us together as a nation. Lets not let courts and congress mess it up.

"One of the things the government can't do is run anything. The only things our government runs are the post office and the railroads, and both of them are bankrupt."

Lee Iaccoca

"We who live in free market societies believe that growth, prosperity and ultimately human fulfillment, are created from the bottom up, not the government down. Only when the human spirit is allowed to invent and create, only when individuals are given a personal stake in deciding economic policies and benefiting from their success -- only then can societies remain economically alive, dynamic, progressive, and free. Trust the people. This is the one irrefutable lesson of the entire postwar period contradicting the notion that rigid government controls are essential to economic development."

Ronald Reagan
American 40th US president (1981- 89), 1911-2004

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."

Thomas Jefferson
American 3rd US President (1801-09). Author of the Declaration of Independence. 1762-1826

As I see it the government is spending out money on bailouts, special interests, unions and other projects without consulting we the people. In the end they will hand us the bill.

“It is not the function of our Government to keep the citizen from falling into error; it is the function of the citizen to keep the Government from falling into error.”

Robert H. Jackson quotes

In today’s politics this is an important principle to keep in mind.

"In a healthy nation there is a kind of dramatic balance between the will of the people and the government, which prevents its degeneration into tyranny."

Albert Einstein
German born American physicist who developed the special and general theories of relativity. Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921. 1879-1955

Is our nation healthy now by this standard?

"The government is merely a servant -- merely a temporary servant; it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn't. Its function is to obey orders, not originate them."

Mark Twain

Yes, the government is supposed to work for us, not us for it.

"One way to make sure crime doesn't pay would be to let the government run it."

Ronald Reagan
American 40th US president (1981- 89), 1911-2004

I agree with Reagan. Especially now we have an administration with little or no experience at business. They also seem to show no concern about running things efficiently.

"I love the Constitution and government of this land, but I hate the damned rascals that administer the government"

Brigham Young
American religious leader, 2nd president of the Mormon church, and colonizer who significantly influenced the development of the American West. 1801-1877

There are still rascals and we have to get rid of them and try to get better.

"It's a good thing we don't get all the government we pay for"

Will Rogers
American entertainer, famous for his pithy and homespun humor, 1879-1935

Will Rogers had a lot of insight. What he said is as true today as in his own day.

"Many people want the government to protect the consumer. A much more urgent problem is to protect the consumer from the government."

Milton Friedman
American economist

I think that it is a role of government to regulate-up to a point. Beyond that point it is a step toward tyranny.

Patriotism

"My affections were first for my own country, then, generally, for all mankind"

Thomas Jefferson
American 3rd US President (1801-09). Author of the Declaration of Independence. 1762-1826

"When I am abroad, I always make it a rule to never criticize or attack the government of my own country. I make up for lost time when I come home."

Winston Churchill
British orator, author and prime minister during World War II. 1874-1965

Odd that we have so many-especially celebrities who think it is their duty to bash our country when they are somewhere else. We even have a president that does so.

"The punishment which the wise suffer, who refuse to take part in government, is to live under the government of worse men"

Plato
Ancient Greek philosopher He was the world's most influential philosopher. 428 BC-348 BC

Why do so many not vote? I believe it is a civic duty to vote and those who don’t are irresponsible and if the end up living in tyranny possibly desrve it.