A wise government knows how to enforce with temper, or to conciliate with dignity, but a weak one is odious read more

A wise government knows how to enforce with temper, or to conciliate with dignity, but a weak one is odious in the former, and contemptible in the latter.

Many people say that government is necessary because some men cannot be trusted to look after themselves, but anarchists say read more

Many people say that government is necessary because some men cannot be trusted to look after themselves, but anarchists say that government is harmful because no men can be trusted to look after anyone else.

A camel is a horse designed by committee.

A camel is a horse designed by committee.

The worst thing in this world, next to anarchy, is government.

The worst thing in this world, next to anarchy, is government.

A thousand years scarce serve to form a state;
An hour may lay it in the dust.

A thousand years scarce serve to form a state;
An hour may lay it in the dust.

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.

Despotism tempered by assassination, that is our Magna Carta.
[Fr., Le despotisme tempere par l'assassinat, c'est notre magna
read more

Despotism tempered by assassination, that is our Magna Carta.
[Fr., Le despotisme tempere par l'assassinat, c'est notre magna
charta.]

Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy driving taxicabs and cutting hair.

Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy driving taxicabs and cutting hair.

Government is a kind of legalized pillage.

Government is a kind of legalized pillage.