Governments, like clocks, go from the motion men give…
“Governments, like clocks, go from the motion men give them, and as governments are made and moved by men, so by them they are ruined too. Wherefore governments rather depend upon men, than men upon governments. Let men be good, and the government cannot be bad; if it be ill, they will cure it. But if men be bad, let the government be never so good, they will endeavour to warp and spoil it to their turn.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Governments reflect the character of the people who create and sustain them; good citizens produce good governance, while corrupt citizens corrupt even the best institutions.
In simple terms: Governments mirror the people who run them.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate virtue in citizens to sustain healthy governance.
Themes
politics
ethics
societal responsibility
Mood
reflective
concerned
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- public policy
- community building
- education reform
- anti‑corruption initiatives
Key Concepts
civic virtue
institutional decay
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies foster widespread civic virtue?
- What safeguards protect institutions from corrupt influences?
A Different Perspective
Even virtuous governments can be undermined by systemic power imbalances.