--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When power is for sale, then government…" description: "\"When power is for sale, then government power should be severely limited. When power is abused, then the less power the better.\" — Charley Reese" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/charley-reese-14592_government_when-power-is-for-sale-then-government-p_1519168.png" --- # When power is for sale, then government power should be… ![“When power is for sale, then government power should be severely limited. When power is abused, then the less power the better.” quote by Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/charley-reese-14592_government_when-power-is-for-sale-then-government-p_1519168.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/charley-reese-14592_government_when-power-is-for-sale-then-government-p_1519168.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/charley-reese-14592_government_when-power-is-for-sale-then-government-p_1519168.png) > “When power is for sale, then government power should be severely limited. When power is abused, then the less power the better.” [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power should be limited to prevent abuse; the less power held, the safer society. **In simple terms:** Limit power to avoid misuse. Key Takeaway Advocate for strong checks on authority. Themes politics government power dynamics Mood critical concerned Type political ideological When to use this quote - legislation - corporate regulation - community leadership - activism Key Concepts libertarianism checks and balances Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms best prevent power abuse? - Is some concentration of power ever justified? A Different Perspective Power can be necessary for effective governance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Limited government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limited-government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [Those who suppress freedom always do so in the name of law and order." - John V. Lindsay "No government power can be abused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/those-who-suppress-freedom-always-do-so-in-the-name-of-law-and-order-2/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [No government power can be abused long. Mankind will not bear it… There is a remedy in human nature against tyranny, that will keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/no-government-power-can-be-abused-long-mankind-will-not-bear-it-there/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Government power is always abused by seizing and perverting the law. And with few exceptions, government always determines what is law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galt/government-power-is-always-abused-by-seizing-and-perverting-the-law/) [John Galt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galt/) > [No government power can be abused long. Mankind will not bear it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/no-government-power-can-be-abused-long-mankind-will-not-bear-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [As a conservative who believes in limited government, I believe that the only check on government power in real time is a free and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/as-a-conservative-who-believes-in-limited-government-i-believe-that/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [The people cannot delegate to government the power to do anything which would be unlawful for them to do themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/the-people-cannot-delegate-to-government-the-power-to-do-anything/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [As a conservative who believes in limited government, I believe the only check on government power in real time is a free and independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/as-a-conservative-who-believes-in-limited-government-i-believe-the/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [I am acutely aware that, as a judge in our system, I have limited power, and I am trying in every case to stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-am-acutely-aware-that-as-a-judge-in-our-system-i-have-limited-power/) [Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/) > [The world of learning is so broad, and the human soul is so limited in power! We reach forth and strain every nerve, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/the-world-of-learning-is-so-broad-and-the-human-soul-is-so-limited-in/) [Maria Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/) > [Oh, I have very limited will power. I wish I could change that. I am working on it, though. I am too easygoing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-madhavan/oh-i-have-very-limited-will-power-i-wish-i-could-change-that-i-am/) [R. Madhavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-madhavan/) > [Given the low level of competence among politicians, every American should become a libertarian. The government that governs least is certainly the best choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/given-the-low-level-of-competence-among-politicians-every-american/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [“What you call yourself has power. Your name is holy too. Some names are not. Some names wound deeply. Have you used the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-moorehead/what-you-call-yourself-has-power-your-name-is-holy-too-some-names-are/) [Kate Moorehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-moorehead/) > [After reviewing all of the evidence and witness testimony in this investigation, I believe that President Trump abused his power and obstructed Congress, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-lamb/after-reviewing-all-of-the-evidence-and-witness-testimony-in-this/) [Conor Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-lamb/) > [I think there's no question Comey abused power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-think-there-s-no-question-comey-abused-power/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [I think this president has so badly abused his power, breached his trust in remarkable ways with our Congress, with the American people, has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-anderson/i-think-this-president-has-so-badly-abused-his-power-breached-his/) [Rocky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-anderson/) ## More by Charley Reese > [People who believe in gun control are ignorant, superstitious or stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/people-who-believe-in-gun-control-are-ignorant-superstitious-or-stupid/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [Experience to a politician is like experience to a prostitute - not much to recommend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/experience-to-a-politician-is-like-experience-to-a-prostitute-not/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [Unless they can pass the same test that immigrants must pass to become citizens, people shouldnt be allowed to vote. The idea that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/unless-they-can-pass-the-same-test-that-immigrants-must-pass-to/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [Disregarding the value of religion and believing in egalitarianism are two misconceptions that cause America much trouble today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/disregarding-the-value-of-religion-and-believing-in-egalitarianism/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [Crime is a human behavior problem, not a mechanical problem. Furthermore, if firearms were not very useful for self-defense, then police wouldn't carry them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/crime-is-a-human-behavior-problem-not-a-mechanical-problem/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [Government is inherently incompetent, and no matter what task it is assigned, it will do it in the most expensive and inefficient way possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/government-is-inherently-incompetent-and-no-matter-what-task-it-is/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [A government that intended to protect the liberty of the people would not disarm them. 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You can only tabulate people's opinions. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/y-ou-cannot-determine-either-the-truth-or-the-right-or-wrong-of/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [If we could manage our own finances the way the Congress does the nation's, we'd all be living in high cotton and eating high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/if-we-could-manage-our-own-finances-the-way-the-congress-does-the/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [It is a foolish man who believes that the status quo can be maintained indefinitely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/it-is-a-foolish-man-who-believes-that-the-status-quo-can-be/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [There's no dishonor in being forced by a superior power into slavery, but it is an eternal disgrace to voluntarily surrender one's liberty for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/there-s-no-dishonor-in-being-forced-by-a-superior-power-into-slavery/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [We...are not really free if we can't control our own government and its policies. And we will never do that if we remain ignorant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/we-are-not-really-free-if-we-can-t-control-our-own-government-and-its/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [Credibility, like virginity, can only be lost once and never recovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/credibility-like-virginity-can-only-be-lost-once-and-never-recovered/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [Given the low level of competence among politicians, every American should become a libertarian. 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But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [He is almost a statesman. He lies well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/he-is-almost-a-statesman-he-lies-well/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [We can't have a government that will collapse in three months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/we-can-t-have-a-government-that-will-collapse-in-three-months/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Browse all 21,248 Government quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When power is for sale, then government power should be severely limited. 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