Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. read more

Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.

An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.

An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger.

Ancient Rome declined because it had a Senate, now what's going to happen to us with both a House and read more

Ancient Rome declined because it had a Senate, now what's going to happen to us with both a House and a Senate?

For in reason, all government without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slavery.

For in reason, all government without the consent of the governed is the very definition of slavery.

. . . The manners of women are the surest criterion by which to
determine whether a republican government read more

. . . The manners of women are the surest criterion by which to
determine whether a republican government is practicable in a
nation or not.

In order to rally people, governments need enemies. They want us to be afraid, to hate, so we will rally read more

In order to rally people, governments need enemies. They want us to be afraid, to hate, so we will rally behind them. And if they do not have a real enemy, they will invent one in order to mobilize us.

If you want to understand your government, don't begin by reading the Constitution. (It conveys precious little of the flavor read more

If you want to understand your government, don't begin by reading the Constitution. (It conveys precious little of the flavor of today's statecraft.) Instead, read selected portions of the Washington telephone directory containing listings for all the organizations with titles beginning with the word National.

All government--indeed, every human benefit and enjoyment, every
virtue and every prudent act--is founded on compromise and
barter.

All government--indeed, every human benefit and enjoyment, every
virtue and every prudent act--is founded on compromise and
barter.

Government, which does not and did not grant us our rights, must not now seek to deny them by using read more

Government, which does not and did not grant us our rights, must not now seek to deny them by using fear as its justification