Ask not what the government can do for you. Ask why it doesn't.

Ask not what the government can do for you. Ask why it doesn't.

Fear is the foundation of most governments.

Fear is the foundation of most governments.

Far more important to me is, that I should be loyal to what I regard as the law of my read more

Far more important to me is, that I should be loyal to what I regard as the law of my political life, which is this: a belief that that country is best governed, which is least governed ...

Congress is so strange. A man gets up to speak and says nothing. Nobody listens - and then everybody disagrees.

Congress is so strange. A man gets up to speak and says nothing. Nobody listens - and then everybody disagrees.

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.

Laws too gentle are seldom obeyed; too severe, seldom executed.

Laws too gentle are seldom obeyed; too severe, seldom executed.

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.

Every country has the government it deserves.

Every country has the government it deserves.

Government is an association of men who do violence to the rest of us.

Government is an association of men who do violence to the rest of us.