--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Remember that a government big enough to…" description: "\"Remember that a government big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take away everything you have.\" — Barry Goldwater" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/570/barry-goldwater-3353_government_remember-that-a-government-big-enough-to_13960.png" --- # Remember that a government big enough to give you… ![“Remember that a government big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take away everything you have.” quote by Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/570/barry-goldwater-3353_government_remember-that-a-government-big-enough-to_13960.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/570/barry-goldwater-3353_government_remember-that-a-government-big-enough-to_13960.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/570/barry-goldwater-3353_government_remember-that-a-government-big-enough-to_13960.png) > “Remember that a government big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take away everything you have.” [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. A warning that an overly expansive state can both fulfill desires and strip away freedoms, highlighting the paradox of power. **In simple terms:** Powerful state can both grant and revoke rights. Key Takeaway Unchecked authority endangers liberty. Themes political power freedom vs control government overreach civil liberties authoritarianism Mood cautious critical reflective Type political cautionary philosophical When to use this quote - voting on legislation - debating surveillance laws - discussing welfare policies - analyzing constitutional limits - evaluating emergency powers Key Concepts state power individual rights social contract political philosophy Practical Applications - civic education - policy analysis Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms can prevent governmental overreach? - How does this view align with democratic accountability? A Different Perspective Some argue that strong governments can protect citizens from chaos and ensure equitable distribution of resources, balancing liberty with security. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/a-government-big-enough-to-give-you-everything-you-want-is-big-enough/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/a-government-big-enough-to-give-you-everything-you-want-is-a/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [“A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/a-government-that-is-big-enough-to-give-you-all-you-want-is-big/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [I think myself that we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious. Government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-think-myself-that-we-have-more-machinery-of-government-than-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have ... The course of history shows that as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/government-big-enough-to-supply-everything-you-need-is-big-enough-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [We want to be big... we want to be a big band, but we don't want to be your best friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-fallon/we-want-to-be-big-we-want-to-be-a-big-band-but-we-don-t-want-to-be/) [Brian Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-fallon/) > [I want to be as big as I can be. I want to be one of the biggest artists. 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