Government never furthered any enterprise but by the alacrity with which it got out of its way. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
What a glorious time they must have in that wilderness, far from mankind and election day! — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The government of the world I live in was not framed, like that of Britain, in after-dinner conversations over the wine. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
What is the value of any political freedom, but as a means to moral freedom? — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The oldest, wisest politician grows not more human so, but is merely a gray wharf rat at last. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
“This [...] government [...] has not the vitality and force of a single living man; for a single man cam bend it… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
How does it become a man to behave towards the American government today? I answer, that he cannot without disgrace be associated… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
“I believe that, in this country, the press exerts a greater and a more pernicious influence than the church did in its… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
There is a patent office at the seat of government of the universe, whose managers are as much interested in the dispersion… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Those things which now most engage the attention of men, as politics and the daily routine, are, it is true, vital functions… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The merely political aspect of the land is never very cheering; men are degraded when considered as the members of a political… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
If the machine of government is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another,… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
We are a nation of politicians, concerned about the outmost defenses only of freedom. It is our children's children who may perchance… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
“Visit the Navy-Yard, and behold a marine, such a man as an American government can make, or such as it can make… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Will mankind never learn that policy is not morality,--that it never secures any moral right, but considers merely what is expedient? chooses… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Webster never goes behind government, and so cannot speak with authority about it. His words are wisdom to those legislators who contemplate… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I wish my countrymen to consider that whatever the human law may be, neither an individual nor a nation can ever commit… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient. The objections which have… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Any man knows when he is justified, and all the wits in the world cannot enlighten him on that point. The murderer… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Others -- as most legislators, politicians, lawyers, ministers, and office-holders -- serve the state chiefly with their heads; and, as they rarely… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
What is called politics is comparatively something so superficial and inhuman, that practically I have never fairly recognized that it concerns me… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The newspapers are the ruling power. Any other government is reduced to a few marines at Fort Independence. If a man neglects… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
There will never be a really free and enlightened state until the state comes to recognize the individual as a higher and… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The only government that I recognize--and it matters not how few are at the head of it, or how small its army--is… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The sort of morality which the priests inculcate is a very subtle policy, far finer than the politicians', and the world is… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
If private men are obliged to perform the offices of government, to protect the weak and dispense justice, then the government becomesonly… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
“for the people must have some complicated machinery or other, and hear its din, to satisfy that idea of government which they… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
They who have been bred in the school of politics fail nowand always to face the facts. Their measures are half measures… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go: perchance it… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The fact which the politician faces is merely that there is less honor among thieves than was supposed, and not the fact… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
If an injustice requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law. Let your life… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Somehow strangely the vice of men gets well represented and protected but their virtue has none to plead its cause - nor… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
“That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Why does it [government] always crucify Christ, and excommunicate Copernicus and Luther, and pronounce Washington and Franklin rebels? — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
What shall we think of a government to which all the truly brave and just men in the land are enemies, standing… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
There is no such thing as accomplishing a righteous reform by the use of "expediency." There is no such thing as sliding… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
No man in America has ever stood up so persistently and effectively for the dignity of human nature, knowing himself for a… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
“Men say they know many things; But lo! they have taken wings, — The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances; The wind that… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and wrong, with moral questions; and betting naturally accompanies it. The character of the voters is not staked. I cast my vote, perchance, as I think right; but I am not vitally concerned that that right should… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share
“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… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the… — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe. — Henry David Thoreau Copy Share Image
![“This [...] government [...] has not the vitality and force of a single living man; for a single man cam bend it to his will.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ded/henry-david-thoreau-20_life_this-government-has-not-the-vitality-and_2078256.jpg)
![“Why does it [government] always crucify Christ, and excommunicate Copernicus and Luther, and pronounce Washington and Franklin rebels?” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/023/henry-david-thoreau-20_christ_why-does-it-government-always-crucify-ch_2832211.jpg)
