--- title: "28 Purpose of government Quotes by 23 authors" description: "Browse 28 Purpose of government quotes by 23 authors. Discover the best Purpose of government sayings and thoughts." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/joseph-sobran-6902_defense_the-most-fundamental-purpose-of-governme_594336.jpg" --- > [The most fundamental purpose of government is defense, not empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-sobran/the-most-fundamental-purpose-of-government-is-defense-not-empire/) [Joseph Sobran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-sobran/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/joseph-sobran-6902_defense_the-most-fundamental-purpose-of-governme_594336.jpg) > [The purpose of government is to reign in the rights of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/the-purpose-of-government-is-to-reign-in-the-rights-of-the-people/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/654/bill-clinton-11499_government_the-purpose-of-government-is-to-reign-in_1853272.jpg) > [Left to me, the whole purpose of government is for the security of the citizens, like the security of lives and property.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibrahim-babangida/left-to-me-the-whole-purpose-of-government-is-for-the-security-of-the/) [Ibrahim Babangida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibrahim-babangida/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/371/ibrahim-babangida-21490_citizens_left-to-me-the-whole-purpose-of-governme_420338.png) > [The fundamental purpose of government is to protect its citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/the-fundamental-purpose-of-government-is-to-protect-its-citizens/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23d/arlen-specter-4360_citizens_the-fundamental-purpose-of-government-is_736803.png) > [The state is or can be master of money, but in a free society it is master of very little else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-beveridge/the-state-is-or-can-be-master-of-money-but-in-a-free-society-it-is/) [William Beveridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-beveridge/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fc/william-beveridge-25660_free-society_the-state-is-or-can-be-master-of-money-b_3068477.png) > [The purpose of government is to rein in the rights of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-purpose-of-government-is-to-rein-in-the-rights-of-the-people/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/william-j-clinton-302_government_the-purpose-of-government-is-to-rein-in_963146.jpg) > [The purpose of government is for those who run it to plunder those who do not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-dilorenzo/the-purpose-of-government-is-for-those-who-run-it-to-plunder-those/) [Thomas DiLorenzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-dilorenzo/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d4/thomas-dilorenzo-40243_government_the-purpose-of-government-is-for-those-w_951597.png) > [The chief purpose of government is to protect life. Abandon that and you have abandoned all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-chief-purpose-of-government-is-to-protect-life-abandon-that-and/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1db/thomas-jefferson-43_abandon_the-chief-purpose-of-government-is-to-pr_2315015.jpg) > [The very nature and purposes of Government make it impossible for administrative officials to represent fully or to bind the employer in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-very-nature-and-purposes-of-government-make-it-impossible-for/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_administrative_the-very-nature-and-purposes-of-governme_1164595.jpg) > [I have always felt that the real purpose of government is to enhance the lives of people and that a leader can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/i-have-always-felt-that-the-real-purpose-of-government-is-to-enhance/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d89/gerald-r-ford-2628_cases_i-have-always-felt-that-the-real-purpose_650597.jpg) > [The sheer number of government employees and welfare recipients effectively transforms the purpose of government from maintaining order to confiscating as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/the-sheer-number-of-government-employees-and-welfare-recipients/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a9/james-bovard-9090_employee_the-sheer-number-of-government-employees_1611727.jpg) > [If congress refuses to obey its own rules. If congress refuses to pass a balanced budget. If congress refuses to read the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/if-congress-refuses-to-obey-its-own-rules-if-congress-refuses-to-pass/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb5/rand-paul-606_balanced_if-congress-refuses-to-obey-its-own-rule_734233.jpg) > [“It is the purpose of government to see that not only the legitimate interests of the few are protected but that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/it-is-the-purpose-of-government-to-see-that-not-only-the-legitimate/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d36/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_government_it-is-the-purpose-of-government-to-see-t_2235143.jpg) > [The only legitimate purpose of government is to serve citizens, and ... the only legitimate purpose of technology is to improve our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/the-only-legitimate-purpose-of-government-is-to-serve-citizens-and/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f0/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_citizens_the-only-legitimate-purpose-of-governmen_2692692.png) > [The good of the people must be the great purpose of government. By the laws of nature and of reason, the governors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/the-good-of-the-people-must-be-the-great-purpose-of-government-by-the/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e87/denis-diderot-1536_atheism_the-good-of-the-people-must-be-the-great_652391.png) > [ The provisions we have made \[for our government\] are such as please ourselves; they answer the substantial purposes of government and of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-provisions-we-have-made-for-our-government-are-such-as-please/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27d/thomas-jefferson-43_answers_the-provisions-we-have-made-for-our-gove_1082584.jpg) > [If you like small government you need to work hard at having a strong national defense that is not so militant. Personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/if-you-like-small-government-you-need-to-work-hard-at-having-a-strong/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/120/ron-paul-686_defense_if-you-like-small-government-you-need-to_2846537.png) > [I submit that the Government exists to provide for the needs of the people, and when it comes to choice between profits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-s-woodsworth/i-submit-that-the-government-exists-to-provide-for-the-needs-of-the/) [J. S. Woodsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-s-woodsworth/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f51/j-s-woodsworth-80445_choices_i-submit-that-the-government-exists-to-p_1193300.png) > [I am absolutely opposed to a national ID card. This is a total contradiction of what a free society is all about.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/i-am-absolutely-opposed-to-a-national-id-card-this-is-a-total/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/ron-paul-686_contradiction_i-am-absolutely-opposed-to-a-national-id_1988673.png) > [Surely by now there can be few here who still believe the purpose of government is to protect us from the destructive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/surely-by-now-there-can-be-few-here-who-still-believe-the-purpose-of/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3a/derrick-jensen-2824_believe_surely-by-now-there-can-be-few-here-who_857143.png) > [“The purpose of government, and therefore of law, is not to cause justice to prevail, but rather, to prevent injustice from reigning.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-befumo/the-purpose-of-government-and-therefore-of-law-is-not-to-cause/) [Joseph Befumo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-befumo/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb8/joseph-befumo-7176_justice_the-purpose-of-government-and-therefore_353756.jpg) > [The proper role of government is exactly what John Stuart Mill said in the middle of the nineteenth century in On Liberty.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-proper-role-of-government-is-exactly-what-john-stuart-mill-said/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/milton-friedman-616_century_the-proper-role-of-government-is-exactly_355942.jpg) > [It is not the business of government to make men virtuous or religious, or to preserve the fool from the consequences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-george/it-is-not-the-business-of-government-to-make-men-virtuous-or-2/) [Henry George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-george/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/henry-george-8103_aggression_it-is-not-the-business-of-government-to_2628420.jpg) > [The Founding Father expressed in words for all to read the ideal of Government based upon the dignity of the individual. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/the-founding-father-expressed-in-words-for-all-to-read-the-ideal-of/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e3/dwight-d-eisenhower-499_books_the-founding-father-expressed-in-words-f_500662.jpg) > [“I think the purpose of government is for a population to accomplish its mutually agreed-upon goals without every citizen having to accomplish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-peate/i-think-the-purpose-of-government-is-for-a-population-to-accomplish/) [Robert Peate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-peate/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/robert-peate-23717_fire-department_i-think-the-purpose-of-government-is-for_184456.jpg) > [The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness. Government exists for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-purpose-of-government-is-to-enable-the-people-of-a-nation-to-live/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fa/thomas-jefferson-43_election-day_the-purpose-of-government-is-to-enable-t_1710816.jpg) > [I am more interested in the purpose of government than its mechanics-though the means should at least be good enough to lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aminu-kano/i-am-more-interested-in-the-purpose-of-government-than-its-mechanics/) [Aminu Kano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aminu-kano/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/aminu-kano-45151_be-good_i-am-more-interested-in-the-purpose-of-g_961778.jpg) > [“Let us be clear at the outset that the liberty of individuals to carry on their business should not be abrogated unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/let-us-be-clear-at-the-outset-that-the-liberty-of-individuals-to/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_business_let-us-be-clear-at-the-outset-that-the-l_2670238.jpg) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-of-government/#itemlist", "name": "Purpose of government Quotes", "numberOfItems": 28, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most fundamental purpose of government is defense, not empire.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph Sobran" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-sobran/the-most-fundamental-purpose-of-government-is-defense-not-empire/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/joseph-sobran-6902_defense_the-most-fundamental-purpose-of-governme_594336.jpg", "contentUrl": 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Abandon that and you have abandoned all.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-chief-purpose-of-government-is-to-protect-life-abandon-that-and/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1db/thomas-jefferson-43_abandon_the-chief-purpose-of-government-is-to-pr_2315015.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1db/thomas-jefferson-43_abandon_the-chief-purpose-of-government-is-to-pr_2315015.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1db/thomas-jefferson-43_abandon_the-chief-purpose-of-government-is-to-pr_2315015.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The chief purpose of government is to protect life. Abandon that and you have abandoned all.” — Thomas Jefferson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The very nature and purposes of Government make it impossible for administrative officials to represent fully or to bind the employer in mutual discussions with Government employee organizations,", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Franklin D. Roosevelt" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-very-nature-and-purposes-of-government-make-it-impossible-for/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_administrative_the-very-nature-and-purposes-of-governme_1164595.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_administrative_the-very-nature-and-purposes-of-governme_1164595.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_administrative_the-very-nature-and-purposes-of-governme_1164595.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The very nature and purposes of Government make it impossible for administrative officials to represent…” — Franklin D. Roosevelt", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have always felt that the real purpose of government is to enhance the lives of people and that a leader can best do that by restraining government in most cases instead of enlarging it at every opportunity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gerald R. Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/i-have-always-felt-that-the-real-purpose-of-government-is-to-enhance/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d89/gerald-r-ford-2628_cases_i-have-always-felt-that-the-real-purpose_650597.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d89/gerald-r-ford-2628_cases_i-have-always-felt-that-the-real-purpose_650597.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d89/gerald-r-ford-2628_cases_i-have-always-felt-that-the-real-purpose_650597.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have always felt that the real purpose of government is to enhance the lives of people and that a leader…” — Gerald R. Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 11, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The sheer number of government employees and welfare recipients effectively transforms the purpose of government from maintaining order to confiscating as much as possible from vulnerable taxpayers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Bovard" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/the-sheer-number-of-government-employees-and-welfare-recipients/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a9/james-bovard-9090_employee_the-sheer-number-of-government-employees_1611727.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a9/james-bovard-9090_employee_the-sheer-number-of-government-employees_1611727.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a9/james-bovard-9090_employee_the-sheer-number-of-government-employees_1611727.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The sheer number of government employees and welfare recipients effectively transforms the purpose of…” — James Bovard", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 12, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If congress refuses to obey its own rules. If congress refuses to pass a balanced budget. If congress refuses to read the Bills. Then I say, sweep the place clean, limit their terms, and send them HOME!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rand Paul" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/if-congress-refuses-to-obey-its-own-rules-if-congress-refuses-to-pass/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb5/rand-paul-606_balanced_if-congress-refuses-to-obey-its-own-rule_734233.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb5/rand-paul-606_balanced_if-congress-refuses-to-obey-its-own-rule_734233.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb5/rand-paul-606_balanced_if-congress-refuses-to-obey-its-own-rule_734233.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If congress refuses to obey its own rules. If congress refuses to pass a balanced budget. If congress…” — Rand Paul", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 13, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is the purpose of government to see that not only the legitimate interests of the few are protected but that the welfare and rights of the many are conserved.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Franklin D. Roosevelt" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/it-is-the-purpose-of-government-to-see-that-not-only-the-legitimate/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d36/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_government_it-is-the-purpose-of-government-to-see-t_2235143.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d36/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_government_it-is-the-purpose-of-government-to-see-t_2235143.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d36/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_government_it-is-the-purpose-of-government-to-see-t_2235143.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is the purpose of government to see that not only the legitimate interests of the few are protected but…” — Franklin D. Roosevelt", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 14, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only legitimate purpose of government is to serve citizens, and ... the only legitimate purpose of technology is to improve our lives, not to manipulate or enslave us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rebecca MacKinnon" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/the-only-legitimate-purpose-of-government-is-to-serve-citizens-and/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f0/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_citizens_the-only-legitimate-purpose-of-governmen_2692692.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f0/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_citizens_the-only-legitimate-purpose-of-governmen_2692692.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f0/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_citizens_the-only-legitimate-purpose-of-governmen_2692692.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only legitimate purpose of government is to serve citizens, and ... the only legitimate purpose of…” — Rebecca MacKinnon", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 15, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The good of the people must be the great purpose of government. By the laws of nature and of reason, the governors are invested with power to that end. And the greatest good of the people is liberty. It is to the state what health is to the individual.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Denis Diderot" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/the-good-of-the-people-must-be-the-great-purpose-of-government-by-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e87/denis-diderot-1536_atheism_the-good-of-the-people-must-be-the-great_652391.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e87/denis-diderot-1536_atheism_the-good-of-the-people-must-be-the-great_652391.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e87/denis-diderot-1536_atheism_the-good-of-the-people-must-be-the-great_652391.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The good of the people must be the great purpose of government. By the laws of nature and of reason, the…” — Denis Diderot", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 16, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The provisions we have made [for our government] are such as please ourselves; they answer the substantial purposes of government and of justice, and other purposes than these should not be answered.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-provisions-we-have-made-for-our-government-are-such-as-please/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27d/thomas-jefferson-43_answers_the-provisions-we-have-made-for-our-gove_1082584.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27d/thomas-jefferson-43_answers_the-provisions-we-have-made-for-our-gove_1082584.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27d/thomas-jefferson-43_answers_the-provisions-we-have-made-for-our-gove_1082584.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The provisions we have made [for our government] are such as please ourselves; they answer the substantial…” — Thomas Jefferson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 17, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you like small government you need to work hard at having a strong national defense that is not so militant. Personal liberty is the purpose of government, to protect liberty - not to run your personal life, not to run the economy, and not to pretend that we can tell the world how they ought to live.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ron Paul" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/if-you-like-small-government-you-need-to-work-hard-at-having-a-strong/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/120/ron-paul-686_defense_if-you-like-small-government-you-need-to_2846537.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/120/ron-paul-686_defense_if-you-like-small-government-you-need-to_2846537.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/120/ron-paul-686_defense_if-you-like-small-government-you-need-to_2846537.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you like small government you need to work hard at having a strong national defense that is not so…” — Ron Paul", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 18, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I submit that the Government exists to provide for the needs of the people, and when it comes to choice between profits and property rights on the one hand and human welfare on the other, there should be no hesitation whatsoever in saying that we are going to place the human welfare consideration first and let property rights and financial interests fare as best they may.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. S. Woodsworth" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-s-woodsworth/i-submit-that-the-government-exists-to-provide-for-the-needs-of-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f51/j-s-woodsworth-80445_choices_i-submit-that-the-government-exists-to-p_1193300.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f51/j-s-woodsworth-80445_choices_i-submit-that-the-government-exists-to-p_1193300.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f51/j-s-woodsworth-80445_choices_i-submit-that-the-government-exists-to-p_1193300.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I submit that the Government exists to provide for the needs of the people, and when it comes to choice…” — J. S. Woodsworth", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 19, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am absolutely opposed to a national ID card. This is a total contradiction of what a free society is all about. The purpose of government is to protect the secrecy and the privacy of all individuals, not the secrecy of government. We don't need a national ID card.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ron Paul" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/i-am-absolutely-opposed-to-a-national-id-card-this-is-a-total/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/ron-paul-686_contradiction_i-am-absolutely-opposed-to-a-national-id_1988673.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/ron-paul-686_contradiction_i-am-absolutely-opposed-to-a-national-id_1988673.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/ron-paul-686_contradiction_i-am-absolutely-opposed-to-a-national-id_1988673.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am absolutely opposed to a national ID card. This is a total contradiction of what a free society is all…” — Ron Paul", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 20, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Surely by now there can be few here who still believe the purpose of government is to protect us from the destructive activities of corporations. At last most of us must understand that the opposite is true: that the primary purpose of government is to protect those who run the economy from the outrage of injured citizens.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Derrick Jensen" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/surely-by-now-there-can-be-few-here-who-still-believe-the-purpose-of/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3a/derrick-jensen-2824_believe_surely-by-now-there-can-be-few-here-who_857143.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3a/derrick-jensen-2824_believe_surely-by-now-there-can-be-few-here-who_857143.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3a/derrick-jensen-2824_believe_surely-by-now-there-can-be-few-here-who_857143.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Surely by now there can be few here who still believe the purpose of government is to protect us from the…” — Derrick Jensen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 21, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The purpose of government, and therefore of law, is not to cause justice to prevail, but rather, to prevent injustice from reigning. Justice is the absence of injustice. The sole function of government, and therefore the law, is to prevent violation of our lives, liberties, and property by greedy or power-hungry individuals and groups.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph Befumo" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-befumo/the-purpose-of-government-and-therefore-of-law-is-not-to-cause/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb8/joseph-befumo-7176_justice_the-purpose-of-government-and-therefore_353756.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb8/joseph-befumo-7176_justice_the-purpose-of-government-and-therefore_353756.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb8/joseph-befumo-7176_justice_the-purpose-of-government-and-therefore_353756.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The purpose of government, and therefore of law, is not to cause justice to prevail, but rather, to prevent…” — Joseph Befumo", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 22, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The proper role of government is exactly what John Stuart Mill said in the middle of the nineteenth century in On Liberty. The proper role of government is to prevent other people from harming an individual. Government, he said, never has any right to interfere with an individual for that individual's own good.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Milton Friedman" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-proper-role-of-government-is-exactly-what-john-stuart-mill-said/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/milton-friedman-616_century_the-proper-role-of-government-is-exactly_355942.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/milton-friedman-616_century_the-proper-role-of-government-is-exactly_355942.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c37/milton-friedman-616_century_the-proper-role-of-government-is-exactly_355942.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The proper role of government is exactly what John Stuart Mill said in the middle of the nineteenth century…” — Milton Friedman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 23, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not the business of government to make men virtuous or religious, or to preserve the fool from the consequences of his own folly. Government should be repressive no further than is necessary to secure liberty by protecting the equal rights of each from aggression on the part of others, and the moment governmental prohibitions extend beyond this line they are in danger of defeating the very ends they are intended to serve.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry George" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-george/it-is-not-the-business-of-government-to-make-men-virtuous-or-2/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/henry-george-8103_aggression_it-is-not-the-business-of-government-to_2628420.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/henry-george-8103_aggression_it-is-not-the-business-of-government-to_2628420.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/henry-george-8103_aggression_it-is-not-the-business-of-government-to_2628420.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is not the business of government to make men virtuous or religious, or to preserve the fool from the…” — Henry George", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 24, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Founding Father expressed in words for all to read the ideal of Government based upon the dignity of the individual. That ideal previously had existed only in the hearts and minds of men. They produced the timeless documents upon which the Nation is rounded and has grown great. They, recognizing God as the author of individual fights, declared that the purpose of Government is to secure those rights.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dwight D. Eisenhower" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/the-founding-father-expressed-in-words-for-all-to-read-the-ideal-of/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e3/dwight-d-eisenhower-499_books_the-founding-father-expressed-in-words-f_500662.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e3/dwight-d-eisenhower-499_books_the-founding-father-expressed-in-words-f_500662.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e3/dwight-d-eisenhower-499_books_the-founding-father-expressed-in-words-f_500662.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Founding Father expressed in words for all to read the ideal of Government based upon the dignity of the…” — Dwight D. Eisenhower", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 25, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I think the purpose of government is for a population to accomplish its mutually agreed-upon goals without every citizen having to accomplish those goals for him- or herself. Some examples: we have a police force so we don’t need to have vigilante mobs. We have a post office so we don’t need to deliver our own mail across the entire nation. We have a fire department so we don’t have to put out our own fires. In return for the services we agree on, we pay a fee. We just don’t all agree on what the services and what the fees should be. I personally think it’s sad we don’t all agree on single-payer health care. We agree on paying taxes to save a house from fire but not a body from cancer? Why do we care more about our property than about ourselves?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Peate" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-peate/i-think-the-purpose-of-government-is-for-a-population-to-accomplish/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/robert-peate-23717_fire-department_i-think-the-purpose-of-government-is-for_184456.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/robert-peate-23717_fire-department_i-think-the-purpose-of-government-is-for_184456.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/robert-peate-23717_fire-department_i-think-the-purpose-of-government-is-for_184456.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think the purpose of government is for a population to accomplish its mutually agreed-upon goals without…” — Robert Peate", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 26, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness. Government exists for the interests of the governed, not for the governors.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Jefferson" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-purpose-of-government-is-to-enable-the-people-of-a-nation-to-live/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fa/thomas-jefferson-43_election-day_the-purpose-of-government-is-to-enable-t_1710816.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fa/thomas-jefferson-43_election-day_the-purpose-of-government-is-to-enable-t_1710816.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fa/thomas-jefferson-43_election-day_the-purpose-of-government-is-to-enable-t_1710816.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness. Government…” — Thomas Jefferson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 27, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am more interested in the purpose of government than its mechanics-though the means should at least be good enough to lead to the ends desired.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aminu Kano" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aminu-kano/i-am-more-interested-in-the-purpose-of-government-than-its-mechanics/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/aminu-kano-45151_be-good_i-am-more-interested-in-the-purpose-of-g_961778.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/aminu-kano-45151_be-good_i-am-more-interested-in-the-purpose-of-g_961778.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/aminu-kano-45151_be-good_i-am-more-interested-in-the-purpose-of-g_961778.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am more interested in the purpose of government than its mechanics-though the means should at least be…” — Aminu Kano", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 28, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Let us be clear at the outset that the liberty of individuals to carry on their business should not be abrogated unless the larger interests of the many are concerned. It is the purpose of government to see that not only the legitimate interests of the few are protected but that the welfare and rights of the many are conserved. These are the principals which must be remembered in any consideration of this question. This, I take it, is sound government-not politics.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Franklin D. Roosevelt" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/let-us-be-clear-at-the-outset-that-the-liberty-of-individuals-to/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_business_let-us-be-clear-at-the-outset-that-the-l_2670238.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_business_let-us-be-clear-at-the-outset-that-the-l_2670238.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3e/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_business_let-us-be-clear-at-the-outset-that-the-l_2670238.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Let us be clear at the outset that the liberty of individuals to carry on their business should not be…” — Franklin D. Roosevelt", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-of-government/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-of-government/", "name": "Purpose of government Quotes", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-of-government/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/joseph-sobran-6902_defense_the-most-fundamental-purpose-of-governme_594336.jpg" }, "description": "Browse 28 Purpose of government quotes by 23 authors. 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