Governing Quotes - Page 12

• It is certain, I think, that the best government is the one that governs the least. But there is a much-neglected corollary: the best citizen is the one who least needs governing.

  Wendell Berry

  Thinking, Government, Needs

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• The dismaying truth is that birtherism is part of a larger pattern of rejection of reality that has taken hold of intimidating segments of one of the two political parties that alternate in power in our governing institutions. It is akin to the view that global warming is a hoax, or that the budget can be balanced through spending cuts alone, or that contraception causes abortion, or that evolution is just another theory, on a par with the theory that the earth is six thousand years old.

  Hendrik Hertzberg

  Taken, Party, Cutting

  "Trumpery" by Hendrik Hertzberg, prod02.newyorker.com. May 2, 2011.

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• The alcoholic and the drug addict harm only themselves by their behavior; the person who violates the rules of morality governing mans life in society harms not only himself, but everyone.

  Ludwig von Mises

  Drug, Morality, Behavior

  Ludwig von Mises (2016). “Liberalism: The Classical Tradition: The Economist”, p.22, VM eBooks

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• Government has become ungovernable; that is, it cannot leave off governing. Law has become lawless; that is, it cannot see where laws should stop. The chief feature of our time is the meekness of the mob and the madness of the government.

  Gilbert K. Chesterton

  Government, Law, Madness

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• We believe that to govern perfectly it is necessary to avoid governing too much.

  James Hilton

  Believe, Too Much

  James Hilton (1988). “Lost Horizon”, p.115, Simon and Schuster

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• I think the subject which will be of most importance politically is Mass Psychology... Its importance has been enormously increased by the growth of modern methods of propaganda. Although this science will be diligently studied, it will be rigidly confined to the governing class. The populace will not be allowed to know how its convictions are generated.

  Bertrand Russell

  Thinking, World Government, Class

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• You must know nothing before you can learn something, and be empty before you can be filled. Is not the emptiness of the bowl what makes it useful? As for laws, a parrot can repeat them word for word. Their spirit is something else again. As for governing, one must first be lowest before being highest.

  Lloyd Alexander

  Law, Firsts, Spirit

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• Writing laws is easy, but governing is difficult.

  Leo Tolstoy

  Writing, Law, Easy

  Leo Tolstoy (2011). “War and Peace: Translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky”, p.428, Vintage

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• Satan has control now. No matter where you look, he is in control, even in our own land. He is guiding the governments as far as the Lord will permit him. That is why there is so much strife, turmoil, and confusion all over the earth. One master mind is governing the nations. It is not the president of the United States; it is not Hitler; it is not Mussolini; it is not the king or government of England or any other land; it is Satan himself.

  Joseph Fielding Smith

  Kings, Government, Land

  Joseph Fielding Smith (1973). “Doctrines of Salvation: Sermons and Writings”

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• I think that Minnesota is different because we are proving that tri-partisan government could work, that you do not need to necessarily be a Democrat or a Republican to be successful at governing.

  Jesse Ventura

  Successful, Thinking, Government

  "Interview: Jesse Ventura biography". AskMen Interview, www.askmen.com.

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• The authority of any governing institution must stop at its citizen's skin.

  Gloria Steinem

  Feminist, Skins, Citizens

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• Every now and then, President Obama sorta drops his veil. He's less coy about his philosophy, he sort of reveals his true governing philosophy, what he really believes.

  Paul Ryan

  Philosophy, Believe, President

  "Ryan: Happy to cling to guns, religion" by Juana Summers, www.politico.com. August 21, 2012.

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• The President didn't offer any clarity in his latest speech about what he would do to tackle our nation's debt before it tackles us and it's still not clear how he'll keep Medicare from going bankrupt. One thing is clear though, Barack Obama isn't interested in governing or putting forward solutions to fix our nation's problems.

  Paul Ryan

  President, Speech, Debt

  "Ryan slams Obama inaugural speech" by Mackenzie Weinger, www.politico.com. January 22, 2013.

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• I build no system. I ask an end to privilege, the abolition of slavery, equality of rights, and the reign of law. Justice, nothing else; that is the alpha and omega of my argument: to others I leave the business of governing the world.

  Pierre-Joseph Proudhon

  Rights, Law, Abolition Of Slavery

  Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (2016). “What is Property?”, p.10, Cosimo Classics

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• A little kingdom I possess, where thoughts and feelings dwell; And very hard the task I find of governing it well.

  Louisa May Alcott

  Wise, Wisdom, Freedom

  Louisa May Alcott, “My Kingdom”

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• A theory of the middle class: that it is not to be determined by its financial situation but rather by its relation to government. That is, one could shade down from an actual ruling or governing class to a class hopelessly out of relation to government, thinking of government as beyond its control, of itself as wholly controlled by government. Somewhere in between and In gradations is the group that has the sense that gov't exists for it, and shapes its consciousness accordingly.

  Lionel Trilling

  Thinking, Government, Class

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• Whoever relies on the Tao in governing men doesn't try to force issues or defeat enemies by force of arms. For every force there is a counterforce. Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself. The Master does his job and then stops. He understands that the universe is forever out of control, and that trying to dominate events goes against the current of the Tao. Because he believes in himself, he doesn't try to convince others. Because he is content with himself, he doesn't need others' approval. Because he accepts himself, the whole world accepts him.

  Laozi

  Jobs, Believe, Men

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• In the visual arts, for example, the semiological approach to graphics provides a rigorous analysis of the visual means used by the artist. It defines the basic properties and laws governing the arts and suggests objective criteria for art criticism.

  Jacques Bertin

  Art, Mean, Law

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• If you don't have a moral question governing your society, then you don't have a society that is going to survive.

  Oren Lyons

  Moral, Ifs

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• Three of the ten principles governing the City of Joy are (a) tell the truth, (b) stop waiting to be rescued, and (c) give away what you want the most.

  Eve Ensler

  Cities, Giving, Joy

  Eve Ensler (2013). “In the Body of the World: A Memoir of Cancer and Connection”, p.212, Macmillan

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• The history of atomism is one of reductionism – the effort to reduce all the operations of nature to a small number of laws governing a small number of primordial objects.

  Leon M. Lederman

  Small Numbers, Law, Effort

  Leon M. Lederman, Dick Teresi (1993). “The God Particle: If the Universe is the Answer, what is the Question?”, p.87, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

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• And now let me give the sentiment which has been, and ever will be, the governing passion of my soul: 'Liberty for each, for all, and forever!'

  William Lloyd Garrison

  Passion, Giving, Forever

  Speech in Charleston, South Carolina, April 14, 1865.

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• All human professions, institutions, and activities must be integral with the earth as the primary self-nourishing , self-governing and self-fulfilling community. To integrate our human activities within this context is our way into the future.

  Thomas Berry

  Self, Community, Earth

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• If proper in their own conduct, what difficulty would they have in governing? But if not able to be proper in their own conduct, how can they demand such conduct from others?

  Confucius

  Demand, Able, Difficulty

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• A true world outlook is incompatible with a foreign imperialism, no matter how high-minded the governing country.

  Wendell Willkie

  Country, World, Matter

  Wendell L. Willkie (1943). “Prefaces TO PEACE”

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