“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower
PowerWarning
Government Quotes
200 FAMOUS QUOTES · GOVERNMENT
Government Quotes
Read the best government quotes on democracy, law, leadership and liberty from Madison, Jefferson, Mencius, Kautilya, Gandhi, Ambedkar, Plato and more.
“The buck stops here.”
Harry S. Truman
ResponsibilityShort Quotes
“I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.”
Thomas Jefferson
Freedom Of ThoughtTyranny
“Bad laws are the worst sort of tyranny.”
Edmund Burke
LawTyranny
“Nothing appears more surprising to those who consider human affairs with a philosophical eye, than the easiness with which the many are governed by the few.”
David Hume
PowerPhilosophy
“As soon as any man says of the affairs of the State, 'What does it matter to me?' the State may be given up for lost.”
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Civic DutyParticipation
“Nothing doth more hurt in a state than that cunning men pass for wise.”
Francis Bacon
WisdomLeadership
“But man, proud man, dressed in a little brief authority, most ignorant of what he's most assured.”
William Shakespeare
PowerPride
“Democracy is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequals alike.”
Plato
DemocracyPhilosophy
“Tyranny naturally arises out of democracy.”
Plato
TyrannyWarning
“He who bids the law rule may be deemed to bid God and Reason alone rule, but he who bids man rule adds an element of the beast.”
Aristotle
Rule Of LawPhilosophy
“The more laws, the less justice.”
Cicero
LawJustice
“Let the ruler be a ruler, the minister a minister, the father a father, and the son a son.”
Confucius
OrderDuty
“He who has great power should use it lightly.”
Seneca
PowerRestraint
“The health of the people is really the foundation upon which all their happiness and all their powers as a state depend.”
Benjamin Disraeli
Public HealthNation
“Than one who plies the murderer's trade, more cruel is the king who wrongs his people.”
Thiruvalluvar
InjusticeLeadership
“As 'Give' the robber cries with lance in hand, so the king who begs with sceptre in his hand.”
Thiruvalluvar
TaxesFairness
“The king protects the whole world; and justice, rightly done, protects the king.”
Thiruvalluvar
JusticeLeadership
“Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness.”
The Bible (Exodus 18:21)
Choosing LeadersIntegrity
“Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise.”
The Bible (Deuteronomy 16:19)
CorruptionJustice
“If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.”
The Bible (Proverbs 29:12)
TruthLeadership
“The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.”
The Bible (Proverbs 29:14)
FairnessLeadership
“Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.”
The Bible (Proverbs 20:28)
MercyTruth
“Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!”
The Bible (Ecclesiastes 10:16)
LeadershipWarning
“Whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.”
The Bible (Mark 10:43-44)
Servant LeadershipHumility