--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In rivers and bad governments, the…" description: "\"In rivers and bad governments, the lightest things swim at the top\" — Benjamin Franklin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/benjamin-franklin-65_bad-government_in-rivers-and-bad-governments-the-lighte_1572108.png" --- # In rivers and bad governments, the lightest things swim at… ![“In rivers and bad governments, the lightest things swim at the top” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/benjamin-franklin-65_bad-government_in-rivers-and-bad-governments-the-lighte_1572108.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/benjamin-franklin-65_bad-government_in-rivers-and-bad-governments-the-lighte_1572108.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/benjamin-franklin-65_bad-government_in-rivers-and-bad-governments-the-lighte_1572108.png) > “In rivers and bad governments, the lightest things swim at the top” [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even in chaotic systems, the smallest, lightest elements rise to the surface, revealing underlying truths. **In simple terms:** Small, light things tend to surface in disorder. Key Takeaway Observe the obvious in turmoil. Themes observation politics nature analysis Mood analytical curious Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - political scandals - environmental crises - market fluctuations - personal conflicts Key Concepts Chaos theory social dynamics hydrodynamics Questions to Reflect On - What “lightest things” have you noticed in a crisis? - Do they always indicate truth? A Different Perspective Surface phenomena may be misleading without deeper investigation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-government/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) [Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivers/) ## Related quotes > [In rivers and bad governments the lightest things swim at top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-rivers-and-bad-governments-the-lightest-things-swim-at-top/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In Southern Europe, we have, of course, very bad governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/in-southern-europe-we-have-of-course-very-bad-governments/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The regime which is destroyed by a revolution is almost always an improvement on its immediate predecessor, and experience teaches that the most critical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/the-regime-which-is-destroyed-by-a-revolution-is-almost-always-an/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [The worst evils which mankind has ever had to endure were inflicted by bad governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-worst-evils-which-mankind-has-ever-had-to-endure-were-inflicted/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [“Only bad religions depend on mysteries, just as bad governments depend on secret police." 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It Happened To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baba-tunde-ojo-olubiyo/the-complexities-of-life-caused-by-bad-government-leaderships-and/) [Baba Tunde Ojo-Olubiyo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baba-tunde-ojo-olubiyo/) > [People are so docile right now. It is almost as if good government means when the politicians lie to us for our own good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/people-are-so-docile-right-now-it-is-almost-as-if-good-government/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [History, in general, only informs us of what bad government is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/history-in-general-only-informs-us-of-what-bad-government-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More by Benjamin Franklin > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [How do you become better tomorrow? 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Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-is-rich-he-that-is-content-who-is-that-nobody/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-on-the-whole-though-i-never-arrived-at-the-perfection-i-had-been/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The good particular men may do separately, in relieving the sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-particular-men-may-do-separately-in-relieving-the-sick-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-counsel-in-wine-but-resolve-afterwards-in-water/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He that's secure is not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-s-secure-is-not-safe/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) [Explore all 1,692 Benjamin Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More Bad government quotes > [History, in general, only informs us of what bad government is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/history-in-general-only-informs-us-of-what-bad-government-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [People are so docile right now. 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A character's response to a discussion about eating from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alasdair-gray/only-bad-religions-depend-on-mysteries-just-as-bad-governments-depend/) [Alasdair Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alasdair-gray/) > [“Bad governments always lie because telling the truth requires honour and courage!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/bad-governments-always-lie-because-telling-the-truth-requires-honour/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The Complexities Of Life Caused By Bad Government Leaderships And Parental Mistakes Can Make A Child More Matured Than Their Age. It Happened To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baba-tunde-ojo-olubiyo/the-complexities-of-life-caused-by-bad-government-leaderships-and/) [Baba Tunde Ojo-Olubiyo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baba-tunde-ojo-olubiyo/) > [The root cause of poverty is social injustice and the bad government that abets it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-root-cause-of-poverty-is-social-injustice-and-the-bad-government/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [“It may be bad for you, but government has no role in dictating our lives. People should be free to imprison themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/it-may-be-bad-for-you-but-government-has-no-role-in-dictating-our/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [A feeble executive implies a feeble execution of the government. A feeble execution is but another phrase for a bad execution; and a government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/a-feeble-executive-implies-a-feeble-execution-of-the-government-a/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Where there is little or no public opinion, there is likely to be bad government, which sooner or later becomes autocratic government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lyon-mackenzie-king/where-there-is-little-or-no-public-opinion-there-is-likely-to-be-bad/) [William Lyon Mackenzie King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lyon-mackenzie-king/) > [My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-reading-of-history-convinces-me-that-most-bad-government-results/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A people can prosper under a very bad government and suffer under a very good one, if in the first case the local administration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/a-people-can-prosper-under-a-very-bad-government-and-suffer-under-a/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [“If a government has the weak eyesight of a mole, that government only brings disaster to that country! The ability to see far is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-a-government-has-the-weak-eyesight-of-a-mole-that-government-only/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [To lodge all power in one party and keep it there is to insure bad government and the sure and gradual deterioration of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/to-lodge-all-power-in-one-party-and-keep-it-there-is-to-insure-bad/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [A government which is not liked by the artists is certainly a bad government, because artist sees very well what is behind the masks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/a-government-which-is-not-liked-by-the-artists-is-certainly-a-bad/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) [Browse all 80 Bad government quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-government/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In rivers and bad governments, the lightest things swim at the top", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Franklin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-rivers-and-bad-governments-the-lightest-things-swim-at-the-top/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad government" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-rivers-and-bad-governments-the-lightest-things-swim-at-the-top/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/benjamin-franklin-65_bad-government_in-rivers-and-bad-governments-the-lighte_1572108.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/benjamin-franklin-65_bad-government_in-rivers-and-bad-governments-the-lighte_1572108.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/benjamin-franklin-65_bad-government_in-rivers-and-bad-governments-the-lighte_1572108.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In rivers and bad governments, the lightest things swim at the top” — Benjamin Franklin", "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": "Benjamin Franklin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In rivers and bad governments, the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-rivers-and-bad-governments-the-lightest-things-swim-at-the-top/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-rivers-and-bad-governments-the-lightest-things-swim-at-the-top/#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 } } ] } ```