---
title: "Best Government Quotes by Henry David Thoreau"
description: "72 Government quotes by Henry David Thoreau. Plus more from Henry David Thoreau and more Government sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/henry-david-thoreau-20_authority_the-authority-of-government-can-have-no_3080542.jpg"
---

> [The authority of government . . . can have no pure right over my person and property but what I concede to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-authority-of-government-can-have-no-pure-right-over-my-person-and/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d79/henry-david-thoreau-20_authority_the-authority-of-government-can-have-no_3080542.jpg)

> [ “This \[...\] government \[...\] has not the vitality and force of a single living man; for a single man cam bend it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-government-has-not-the-vitality-and-force-of-a-single-living-man/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ded/henry-david-thoreau-20_life_this-government-has-not-the-vitality-and_2078256.jpg)

> [How does it become a man to behave towards the American government today? I answer, that he cannot without disgrace be associated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/how-does-it-become-a-man-to-behave-towards-the-american-government/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/henry-david-thoreau-20_american-government_how-does-it-become-a-man-to-behave-towar_2363232.jpg)

> [The effect of a good government is to make life more valuable; of a bad one, to make it less valuable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-effect-of-a-good-government-is-to-make-life-more-valuable-of-a/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c19/henry-david-thoreau-20_effects_the-effect-of-a-good-government-is-to-ma_1540744.jpg)

> [Is a democracy, such as we know it, the last improvement possible in government? Is it not possible to take a step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/is-a-democracy-such-as-we-know-it-the-last-improvement-possible-in-2/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a72/henry-david-thoreau-20_democracy_is-a-democracy-such-as-we-know-it-the-la_2638203.jpg)

> [That government is best which governs not at all; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/that-government-is-best-which-governs-not-at-all-and-when-men-are/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d8/henry-david-thoreau-20_anarchism_that-government-is-best-which-governs-no_1145229.jpg)

> [So long as a man is faithful to himself, everything is in his favor, government, society, the very sun, moon, and stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/so-long-as-a-man-is-faithful-to-himself-everything-is-in-his-favor/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b6/henry-david-thoreau-20_faithful_so-long-as-a-man-is-faithful-to-himself_414394.jpg)

> [If the machine of government is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-the-machine-of-government-is-of-such-a-nature-that-it-requires-you/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/henry-david-thoreau-20_break_if-the-machine-of-government-is-of-such_210200.jpg)

> [What shall we think of a government to which all the truly brave and just men in the land are enemies, standing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/what-shall-we-think-of-a-government-to-which-all-the-truly-brave-and/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a4/henry-david-thoreau-20_brave_what-shall-we-think-of-a-government-to-w_2395585.jpg)

> [It is easier to sail many thousand miles through cold and storm and cannibals, in a government ship, with five hundred men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-easier-to-sail-many-thousand-miles-through-cold-and-storm-and-2/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dc/henry-david-thoreau-20_government_it-is-easier-to-sail-many-thousand-miles_1391644.jpg)

> [“That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/that-government-is-best-which-governs-least-and-i-should-like-to-see/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/henry-david-thoreau-20_politics_that-government-is-best-which-governs-le_1671221.jpg)

> [There is a patent office at the seat of government of the universe, whose managers are as much interested in the dispersion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/there-is-a-patent-office-at-the-seat-of-government-of-the-universe/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/546/henry-david-thoreau-20_dispersion_there-is-a-patent-office-at-the-seat-of_17647.jpg)

> [To speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/to-speak-practically-and-as-a-citizen-unlike-those-who-call/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1bc/henry-david-thoreau-20_asks_to-speak-practically-and-as-a-citizen-un_2985969.jpg)

> [If private men are obliged to perform the offices of government, to protect the weak and dispense justice, then the government becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-private-men-are-obliged-to-perform-the-offices-of-government-to-2/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d7/henry-david-thoreau-20_abolition_if-private-men-are-obliged-to-perform-th_1432872.jpg)

> [The newspapers, I perceive, devote some of their columns specially to politics or government without charge; and this, one would say, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-newspapers-i-perceive-devote-some-of-their-columns-specially-to/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/741/henry-david-thoreau-20_blunt_the-newspapers-i-perceive-devote-some-of_2891454.jpg)

> [It is easier to sail many thousand miles through cold and storm and cannibals, ina government ship, with five hundred men and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-easier-to-sail-many-thousand-miles-through-cold-and-storm-and/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/henry-david-thoreau-20_atlantic-ocean_it-is-easier-to-sail-many-thousand-miles_1286492.jpg)

> [f the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go; perchance it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/f-the-injustice-is-part-of-the-necessary-friction-of-the-machine-of/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ccc/henry-david-thoreau-20_agents_f-the-injustice-is-part-of-the-necessary_1929326.jpg)

> [After all, the practical reason why, when the power is once in the hands of the people, a majority are permitted, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/after-all-the-practical-reason-why-when-the-power-is-once-in-the/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ff/henry-david-thoreau-20_cases_after-all-the-practical-reason-why-when_1791140.jpg)

> [Webster never goes behind government, and so cannot speak with authority about it. His words are wisdom to those legislators who contemplate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/webster-never-goes-behind-government-and-so-cannot-speak-with/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ea/henry-david-thoreau-20_all-time_webster-never-goes-behind-government-and_1279911.jpg)

> [I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-heartily-accept-the-motto-that-government-is-best-which-governs-2/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7df/henry-david-thoreau-20_accepting_i-heartily-accept-the-motto-that-governm_2832937.jpg)

> [I do not hesitate to say, that those who call themselves Abolitionists should at once effectually withdraw their support, both inperson and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-do-not-hesitate-to-say-that-those-who-call-themselves-abolitionists/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbf/henry-david-thoreau-20_abolitionist_i-do-not-hesitate-to-say-that-those-who_2902140.jpg)

> [In 1694 a law was passed "that every settler who deserted a town for fear of the Indians should forfeit all his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-1694-a-law-was-passed-that-every-settler-who-deserted-a-town-for/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/henry-david-thoreau-20_camps_in-1694-a-law-was-passed-that-every-sett_991634.jpg)

> [I do not remember anything which Confucius has said directly respecting man's "origin, purpose, and destiny." He was more practical than that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-do-not-remember-anything-which-confucius-has-said-directly/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/henry-david-thoreau-20_accounts_i-do-not-remember-anything-which-confuci_1088642.jpg)

> [Is it not possible that an individual may be right and a government wrong? Are laws to be enforced simply because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/is-it-not-possible-that-an-individual-may-be-right-and-a-government/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50a/henry-david-thoreau-20_be-good_is-it-not-possible-that-an-individual-ma_803551.jpg)

> [Those who, while they disapprove of the character and measures of a government, yield to it their allegiance and support are undoubtedly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/those-who-while-they-disapprove-of-the-character-and-measures-of-a/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c2/henry-david-thoreau-20_allegiance_those-who-while-they-disapprove-of-the-c_3075046.jpg)

> [Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient. The objections which have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/government-is-at-best-but-an-expedient-but-most-governments-are/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/henry-david-thoreau-20_army_government-is-at-best-but-an-expedient-b_725501.jpg)

> [It is not for a man to put himself in such an attitude to society, but to maintain himself in whatever attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-not-for-a-man-to-put-himself-in-such-an-attitude-to-society-but/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/henry-david-thoreau-20_attitude_it-is-not-for-a-man-to-put-himself-in-su_2166045.jpg)

> [The only government that I recognize--and it matters not how few are at the head of it, or how small its army--is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-only-government-that-i-recognize-and-it-matters-not-how-few-are/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77d/henry-david-thoreau-20_army_the-only-government-that-i-recognize-and_2145156.jpg)

> [I wish my countrymen to consider that whatever the human law may be, neither an individual nor a nation can ever commit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-wish-my-countrymen-to-consider-that-whatever-the-human-law-may-be/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f0/henry-david-thoreau-20_commit_i-wish-my-countrymen-to-consider-that-wh_576696.jpg)

> [The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-character-inherent-in-the-american-people-has-done-all-that-has/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c44/henry-david-thoreau-20_accomplished_the-character-inherent-in-the-american-p_2041826.jpg)

> [The newspapers are the ruling power. Any other government is reduced to a few marines at Fort Independence. If a man neglects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-newspapers-are-the-ruling-power-any-other-government-is-reduced/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/henry-david-thoreau-20_forts_the-newspapers-are-the-ruling-power-any_1877231.jpg)

> [To one who habitually endeavors to contemplate the true state of things, the political state can hardly be said to have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/to-one-who-habitually-endeavors-to-contemplate-the-true-state-of/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd3/henry-david-thoreau-20_contemplate_to-one-who-habitually-endeavors-to-conte_626080.jpg)

## Other authors on Government

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- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b018/author-noam-chomsky-71799.jpg) Noam Chomsky 102 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/noam-chomsky/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b021/author-rush-limbaugh-81741.jpg) Rush Limbaugh 101 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/rush-limbaugh/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b018/author-milton-friedman-68333.jpg) Milton Friedman 90 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/milton-friedman/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b002/author-ilkin-santak-7545.jpg) Ilkin Santak 90 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/ilkin-santak/)

## More by Henry David Thoreau

> [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [“Men say they know many things; But lo! they have taken wings, — The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances; The wind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-say-they-know-many-things-but-lo-they-have-taken-wings-the-arts/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-traveler-who-looks-at-things-with-an-impartial-eye-may-see-what-the/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-s-little-arch-does-not-span-all-our-fate-nor-is-what/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [The lumberers rarely trouble themselves to put out their fires, such is the dampness of the primitive forest; and this is one cause, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-lumberers-rarely-trouble-themselves-to-put-out-their-fires-such/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [“When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-he-has-obtained-those-things-which-are-necessary-to-life-there/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

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                        "text": "What shall we think of a government to which all the truly brave and just men in the land are enemies, standing between it and those whom it oppresses? A government that pretends to be Christian and crucifies a million Christs every day!",
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                        "text": "It is easier to sail many thousand miles through cold and storm and cannibals, ina government ship, with five hundred men and boys to assist one, than it is to explore the private sea, the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean of one's being alone.",
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                        "text": "f the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go; perchance it will wear smooth - certainly the machine will wear out... but if it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then I say, break the law. Let your life be a counter-friction to stop the machine. What I have to do is to see, at any rate, that I do not lend myself to the wrong which I condemn.",
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                        "text": "After all, the practical reason why, when the power is once in the hands of the people, a majority are permitted, and for a long period continue, to rule is not because they are most likely to be in the right, nor because this seems fairest to the minority, but because they are physically the strongest. But a government in which the majority rule in all cases cannot be based on justice, even as far as men understand it.",
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                        "text": "Webster never goes behind government, and so cannot speak with authority about it. His words are wisdom to those legislators who contemplate no essential reform in the existing government; but for thinkers, and those who legislate for all time, he never once glances at the subject… Comparatively, he is always strong, original, and, above all, practical. Still, his quality is not wisdom, but prudence.",
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                        "text": "I heartily accept the motto, \"That government is best which governs least\"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe — \"That government is best which governs not at all\"; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have. Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient.",
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                        "text": "I do not hesitate to say, that those who call themselves Abolitionists should at once effectually withdraw their support, both inperson and property, from the government of Massachusetts, and not wait until they constitute a majority of one, before they suffer the right to prevail through them. I think that it is enough if they have God on their side, without waiting for that other one. Moreover, any man more right than his neighbors constitutes a majority of one already.",
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                        "text": "In 1694 a law was passed \"that every settler who deserted a town for fear of the Indians should forfeit all his rights therein.\" But now, at any rate, as I have frequently observed, a man may desert the fertile frontier territories of truth and justice, which are the State's best lands, for fear of far more insignificant foes, without forfeiting any of his civil rights therein. Nay, townships are granted to deserters, and the General Court, as I am sometimes inclined to regard it, is but a deserters' camp itself.",
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                        "text": "I do not remember anything which Confucius has said directly respecting man's \"origin, purpose, and destiny.\" He was more practical than that. He is full of wisdom applied to human relations,--to the private life,--the family,--government, etc. It is remarkable that, according to his own account, the sum and substance of his teaching is, as you know, to do as you would be done by.",
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                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "Is it not possible that an individual may be right and a government wrong? Are laws to be enforced simply because they were made? Or declared by any number of men to be good, if they are NOT good?",
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                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "Those who, while they disapprove of the character and measures of a government, yield to it their allegiance and support are undoubtedly its most conscientious supporters, and so frequently the most serious obstacles to reform.",
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                        "text": "Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient. The objections which have been brought against a standing army, and they are many and weighty, and deserve to prevail, may also at last be brought against a standing government.",
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                        "text": "It is not for a man to put himself in such an attitude to society, but to maintain himself in whatever attitude he find himself through obedience to the laws of his being, which will never be one of opposition to a just government, if he should chance to meet with such.",
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                        "text": "The only government that I recognize--and it matters not how few are at the head of it, or how small its army--is that power thatestablishes justice in the land, never that which establishes injustice.",
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                        "text": "I wish my countrymen to consider that whatever the human law may be, neither an individual nor a nation can ever commit the leastact of injustice against the obscurest individual without having to pay the penalty for it. A government which deliberately enacts injustice, and persists in it, will at length even become the laughing-stock of the world.",
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