--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have little interest in streamlining…" description: "\"I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28f/barry-goldwater-3353_constitution_i-have-little-interest-in-streamlining-g_1565658.jpg" --- # I have little interest in streamlining government or in… ![“I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them. It is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel old ones that…” quote by Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28f/barry-goldwater-3353_constitution_i-have-little-interest-in-streamlining-g_1565658.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28f/barry-goldwater-3353_constitution_i-have-little-interest-in-streamlining-g_1565658.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28f/barry-goldwater-3353_constitution_i-have-little-interest-in-streamlining-g_1565658.jpg) > “I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them. It is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel old ones that do violence to the Constitution or that have failed their purpose, or that impose on the people an unwarranted financial burden. I will not attempt to discover whether legislation is ''needed'' before I have first determined whether it is constitutionally permissible. And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents interests,'' I shall reply that I was informed that their main interest is liberty and that in that cause I am doing the very best I can.” [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues for minimizing government size, rejecting welfare, and repealing unconstitutional laws to protect liberty. **In simple terms:** Less government, more freedom. Key Takeaway Prioritize constitutional limits over new programs. Themes limited government liberty constitutionalism taxation Mood cautious critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - budget reform - law review - public debates Key Concepts federalism deregulation public policy Questions to Reflect On - What policies truly protect liberty? - When is government intervention justified? A Different Perspective Complex issues may need nuanced solutions beyond repeal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constituents Interests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constituents-interests-1398333/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitutionally Permissible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitutionally-permissible-2893413/) [Extend Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extend-freedom-568049/) [Financial burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/financial-burden/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Legislation Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislation-needed-3706895/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Neglecting Constituents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglecting-constituents-1398334/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/i-have-little-interest-in-streamlining-government-or-in-making-it-3/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents' "interests," I shall reply that I was informed that their main interest is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/and-if-i-should-later-be-attacked-for-neglecting-my-constituents/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not to pass laws but to repeal them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/i-do-not-undertake-to-promote-welfare-for-i-propose-to-extend-freedom/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [People in Eastern Washington should be confident in knowing that the government will not come and seize their property or farm land. Legislation is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers/people-in-eastern-washington-should-be-confident-in-knowing-that-the/) [Cathy McMorris Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers/) > [By the Obama administration's reasoning, it would be constitutionally permissible to make Americans purchase nearly any product (broccoli, gym membership) that improved their health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/by-the-obama-administration-s-reasoning-it-would-be-constitutionally/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [If discrimination based on race is constitutionally permissible when those who hold the reins can come up with "compelling" reasons to justify it, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-discrimination-based-on-race-is-constitutionally-permissible-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Liberal Democracy is all about extending choice. Give people the option to decide their retirement age, and you immediately extend their freedom in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kennedy/liberal-democracy-is-all-about-extending-choice-give-people-the/) [Charles Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kennedy/) > [“Thus, for the American Conservative, there is no difficulty in identifying the day's overriding political challenge: it is to preserve and extend freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-m-goldwater/thus-for-the-american-conservative-there-is-no-difficulty-in/) [Barry M. Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-m-goldwater/) > [“Honorable, happy, and successful marriage is surely the principal goal of every normal person. Marriage is perhaps the most vital of all the decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/honorable-happy-and-successful-marriage-is-surely-the-principal-goal/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [Sometimes I feel I have more faith in European ideals than some of my British or French friends. For them, it's a financial burden.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-safak/sometimes-i-feel-i-have-more-faith-in-european-ideals-than-some-of-my/) [Elif Safak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-safak/) > [Raising the minimum wage represents a substantial financial burden for employers, particularly start-ups, early stage companies, and family-owned businesses. In response, business owners would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabrizio-moreira/raising-the-minimum-wage-represents-a-substantial-financial-burden/) [Fabrizio Moreira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabrizio-moreira/) > [As pressure grows to ease the financial burden on social security, pressure will also grow to eliminate the elderly and infirm to 'free up'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-thomas/as-pressure-grows-to-ease-the-financial-burden-on-social-security/) [Cal Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-thomas/) > [As they work hard for our children, America's teachers often reach into their own pockets to make sure they have the best classroom supplies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-warner/as-they-work-hard-for-our-children-america-s-teachers-often-reach/) [John Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-warner/) > [Nothing is more useless in developing a nation's economy than a gun, and nothing blocks the road to social development more than the financial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-hussein-i/nothing-is-more-useless-in-developing-a-nation-s-economy-than-a-gun/) [King Hussein I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-hussein-i/) > [The absence of marriages will result in all kinds of financial burdens that gay people wouldn't face if they could get married. If my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/the-absence-of-marriages-will-result-in-all-kinds-of-financial/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) ## More by Barry Goldwater > [Remember that a government big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take away everything you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/remember-that-a-government-big-enough-to-give-you-everything-you-want/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [To insist on strength ... is not war-mongering. It is peace-mongering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/to-insist-on-strength-is-not-war-mongering-it-is-peace-mongering/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Social and cultural change, however desirable, should not be effected by the engines of national power. Let us, through persuasion and education, seek to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/social-and-cultural-change-however-desirable-should-not-be-effected/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Having spent 37 years of my life in the military as a reservist, and never having met a gay in all of that time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/having-spent-37-years-of-my-life-in-the-military-as-a-reservist-and/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Some programs have been theatrical masterpieces, but all we're seeing is the negative side of nuclear war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/some-programs-have-been-theatrical-masterpieces-but-all-we-re-seeing/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [My mother took us to services at the Episcopal church. Yet she always said that God was not just inside the four walls of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/my-mother-took-us-to-services-at-the-episcopal-church-yet-she-always/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [You don't need to be straight to fight and die for your country. You just need to shoot straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/you-don-t-need-to-be-straight-to-fight-and-die-for-your-country-you/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents' "interests," I shall reply that I was informed that their main interest is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/and-if-i-should-later-be-attacked-for-neglecting-my-constituents/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Nixon was the most dishonest individual I have ever met in my life. He lied to his wife, his family, his friends, his colleagues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/nixon-was-the-most-dishonest-individual-i-have-ever-met-in-my-life-he/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Forced integration is just as wrong as forced segregation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/forced-integration-is-just-as-wrong-as-forced-segregation/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Religious factions will go on imposing their will on others unless the decent people connected to them recognize that religion has no place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/religious-factions-will-go-on-imposing-their-will-on-others-unless/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Government should stay the hell out of people's business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/government-should-stay-the-hell-out-of-people-s-business/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [I think some highly secret government UFO investigations are going on that we don't know about--and probably never will unless the Air Force discloses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/i-think-some-highly-secret-government-ufo-investigations-are-going-on/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Conservatism, we are told, is out-of-date. This charge is preposterous and we ought to boldly say so. The laws of God, and of nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/conservatism-we-are-told-is-out-of-date-this-charge-is-preposterous/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [Once upon a time our traditional goal in war and can anyone doubt that we are at war? - was victory. Once upon a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/once-upon-a-time-our-traditional-goal-in-war-and-can-anyone-doubt/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) [Explore all 133 Barry Goldwater quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) ## More Constitution quotes > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [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/) > [While not widely reported, our victories in Iraq are plentiful. National elections, a democratic parliament and the drafting of a constitution are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/while-not-widely-reported-our-victories-in-iraq-are-plentiful/) [Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/) > [In a recent decision of the Supreme Court, not made, however, by the full court, and concurred in by only four justices, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bates-clark/in-a-recent-decision-of-the-supreme-court-not-made-however-by-the/) [John Bates Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bates-clark/) > [The judiciary must not take on the coloration of whatever may be popular at the moment. We are guardian of rights, and we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-bird/the-judiciary-must-not-take-on-the-coloration-of-whatever-may-be/) [Rose Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-bird/) > [There is not a revolution that succe Women are suffering because they are being excluded. The high military council excluded women from the committee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/there-is-not-a-revolution-that-succe-women-are-suffering-because-they/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“The Court has a special responsibility to ensure that the Constitution works in practice. While education, including the transmission of our civic values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/the-court-has-a-special-responsibility-to-ensure-that-the/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) [Joe Pitts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pitts/) > [Nothing from man's hands, nor law, nor constitution, can be final. Truth alone is final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/nothing-from-man-s-hands-nor-law-nor-constitution-can-be-final-truth/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) > [“I am apprehensive, Sir, that in the warmth of my feelings, I may have uttered expressions, which were too vehement. If such has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/i-am-apprehensive-sir-that-in-the-warmth-of-my-feelings-i-may-have/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Conservative political opinion in America cleaves to the tradition of the judge as passive interpreter, believing that his absolute loyalty to authoritative law is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/conservative-political-opinion-in-america-cleaves-to-the-tradition-of/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) [Browse all 4,507 Constitution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them. It is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel old ones that do violence to the Constitution or that have failed their purpose, or that impose on the people an unwarranted financial burden. I will not attempt to discover whether legislation is ''needed'' before I have first determined whether it is constitutionally permissible. And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents interests,'' I shall reply that I was informed that their main interest is liberty and that in that cause I am doing the very best I can.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barry Goldwater" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/i-have-little-interest-in-streamlining-government-or-in-making-it-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Constitution" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/i-have-little-interest-in-streamlining-government-or-in-making-it-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28f/barry-goldwater-3353_constitution_i-have-little-interest-in-streamlining-g_1565658.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28f/barry-goldwater-3353_constitution_i-have-little-interest-in-streamlining-g_1565658.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28f/barry-goldwater-3353_constitution_i-have-little-interest-in-streamlining-g_1565658.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its…” — Barry Goldwater", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Barry Goldwater", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have little interest in streamlining...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/i-have-little-interest-in-streamlining-government-or-in-making-it-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/i-have-little-interest-in-streamlining-government-or-in-making-it-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```