--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whatever government is not a government…" description: "\"Whatever government is not a government of laws, is a despotism, let it be called what it may.\" — Daniel Webster" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/daniel-webster-2347_despotism_whatever-government-is-not-a-government_729597.jpg" --- # Whatever government is not a government of laws, is a… ![“Whatever government is not a government of laws, is a despotism, let it be called what it may.” quote by Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/daniel-webster-2347_despotism_whatever-government-is-not-a-government_729597.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/daniel-webster-2347_despotism_whatever-government-is-not-a-government_729597.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/daniel-webster-2347_despotism_whatever-government-is-not-a-government_729597.jpg) > “Whatever government is not a government of laws, is a despotism, let it be called what it may.” [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A government lacking rule of law becomes tyrannical, regardless of its name. **In simple terms:** Without laws, any government is a despotism. Key Takeaway Ensure laws govern authority. Themes politics law authority Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - legislative debates - civil rights movements - constitutional reforms Key Concepts rule of law tyranny government legitimacy Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards prevent abuse of power? - How can citizens hold leaders accountable? A Different Perspective Even with laws, enforcement may be weak. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Despotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despotism/) [Despotism Let](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despotism-let-5717604/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-government/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws Despotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws-despotism-5717605/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [Liberty ... was a two-headed boon. There was first, the liberty of the people as a whole to determine the forms of their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/liberty-was-a-two-headed-boon-there-was-first-the-liberty-of-the/) [H. L. 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The simplest governments are despotisms; the next simplest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/nothing-is-more-deceptive-or-more-dangerous-than-the-pretence-of-a/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-when-a-long-train-of-abuses-and-usurpations-pursuing-invariably/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the savages of Louisiana wish to have fruit, they cut the tree at the bottom and gather the fruit. That is exactly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/when-the-savages-of-louisiana-wish-to-have-fruit-they-cut-the-tree-at/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Neither should men study war with a view to the enslavement of those who do not deserve to be enslaved; but first of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/neither-should-men-study-war-with-a-view-to-the-enslavement-of-those/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“It is our theory that the people own the government, not that the government should own the people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/it-is-our-theory-that-the-people-own-the-government-not-that-the/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [it is the people who control the Government, not the Government the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-people-who-control-the-government-not-the-government-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Pugsley's First Law of Government: All government programs accomplish the opposite of what they are designed to achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pugsley/pugsley-s-first-law-of-government-all-government-programs-accomplish/) [John Pugsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pugsley/) > [There is a government within the government who controll this and i do not controll it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/there-is-a-government-within-the-government-who-controll-this-and-i/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [When government gets too big, freedom is lost. Government is supposed to be the servant. But when a government can tax the people with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/when-government-gets-too-big-freedom-is-lost-government-is-supposed/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Though the people support the government; the government should not support the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/though-the-people-support-the-government-the-government-should-not/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [Trust me, I've been to countries where there's no government. And our government's pretty damned good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcgrath/trust-me-i-ve-been-to-countries-where-there-s-no-government-and-our/) [Amy McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcgrath/) > [It is up to the government to keep the government's secrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-novak/it-is-up-to-the-government-to-keep-the-government-s-secrets/) [Robert Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-novak/) ## More by Daniel Webster > [In the nature of things, those who have no property and see their neighbors possess much more than they think them to need, cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/in-the-nature-of-things-those-who-have-no-property-and-see-their/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [“Liberty and Union, now and for ever, one and inseparable!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/liberty-and-union-now-and-for-ever-one-and-inseparable/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [If we work on marble it will perish. If we work on brass, time will efface it. If we raise temples, they will crumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/if-we-work-on-marble-it-will-perish-if-we-work-on-brass-time-will/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [This is the Book. I have read the Bible through many times, and now make it a practice to read it through once every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/this-is-the-book-i-have-read-the-bible-through-many-times-and-now/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Men hang out their signs indicative of their respective trades; shoe makers hang out a gigantic shoe; jewelers a monster watch, and the dentist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/men-hang-out-their-signs-indicative-of-their-respective-trades-shoe/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [There is something on earth greater than arbitrary or despotic power. The lightning has its power, and the whirlwind has its power, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/there-is-something-on-earth-greater-than-arbitrary-or-despotic-power/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Faith puts God between us and our circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/faith-puts-god-between-us-and-our-circumstances/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Failure is more frequently from want of energy than want of capital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/failure-is-more-frequently-from-want-of-energy-than-want-of-capital/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [The Bible is a book of faith, and a book of doctrine, and a book of religion, of special revelation from God; but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/the-bible-is-a-book-of-faith-and-a-book-of-doctrine-and-a-book-of/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Our destruction, should it come at all, will be from...the inattention of the people to the concerns of their government, from their carelessness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/our-destruction-should-it-come-at-all-will-be-from-the-inattention-of/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [When the spotless ermine of the judicial robe fell on John Jay, it touched nothing less spotless than itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/when-the-spotless-ermine-of-the-judicial-robe-fell-on-john-jay-it/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [If the Union was formed by accession of States then the Union may be dissolved by the secession of States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/if-the-union-was-formed-by-accession-of-states-then-the-union-may-be/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [A solemn and religious regard to spiritual and eternal things is an indispensable element of all true greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/a-solemn-and-religious-regard-to-spiritual-and-eternal-things-is-an/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Philosophic argument, especially that drawn from the vastness of the universe, in comparison with the apparent insignificance of this globe, has sometimes shaken my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/philosophic-argument-especially-that-drawn-from-the-vastness-of-the/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [We are all agents of the same supreme power, the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/we-are-all-agents-of-the-same-supreme-power-the-people/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) [Explore all 170 Daniel Webster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) ## More Despotism quotes > [Generally, I like all islands. There, it is easier to rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/generally-i-like-all-islands-there-it-is-easier-to-rule/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [“The central government was a despotism tempered by military rebellion and assassination and replacement of one scurvy lot of ruling dynasts by another. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-f-cantor/the-central-government-was-a-despotism-tempered-by-military-rebellion/) [Norman F. Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-f-cantor/) > [When the savages of Louisiana wish to have fruit, they cut the tree at the bottom and gather the fruit. That is exactly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/when-the-savages-of-louisiana-wish-to-have-fruit-they-cut-the-tree-at/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Republican despotism is more fertile in acts of tyranny, because everyone has a hand in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/republican-despotism-is-more-fertile-in-acts-of-tyranny-because/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [There are, after all, atheists who say they wish the fable were true but are unable to suspend the requisite disbelief, or who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/there-are-after-all-atheists-who-say-they-wish-the-fable-were-true/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Neither should men study war with a view to the enslavement of those who do not deserve to be enslaved; but first of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/neither-should-men-study-war-with-a-view-to-the-enslavement-of-those/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [If Despotism failed only for want of a capable benevolent despot, what chance has Democracy, which requires a whole population of capable voters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/if-despotism-failed-only-for-want-of-a-capable-benevolent-despot-what/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Liberty ... was a two-headed boon. There was first, the liberty of the people as a whole to determine the forms of their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/liberty-was-a-two-headed-boon-there-was-first-the-liberty-of-the/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“No longer enslaved or made dependent by force of law, the great majority are so by force of poverty; they are still chained to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/no-longer-enslaved-or-made-dependent-by-force-of-law-the-great/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [“All despotism is bad; but the worst is that which works with the machinery of freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius/all-despotism-is-bad-but-the-worst-is-that-which-works-with-the/) [Junius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius/) > [But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-when-a-long-train-of-abuses-and-usurpations-pursuing-invariably/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Despotism often presents itself as the repairer of all the ills suffered, the support of just rights, defender of the oppressed, and founder of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/despotism-often-presents-itself-as-the-repairer-of-all-the-ills/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [A court which yields to the popular will thereby licenses itself to practice despotism, for there can be no assurance that it will not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-frankfurter/a-court-which-yields-to-the-popular-will-thereby-licenses-itself-to/) [Felix Frankfurter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-frankfurter/) > [“Despotism may govern without faith, but liberty cannot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/despotism-may-govern-without-faith-but-liberty-cannot/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) [Browse all 327 Despotism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despotism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whatever government is not a government of laws, is a despotism, let it be called what it may.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Daniel Webster" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/whatever-government-is-not-a-government-of-laws-is-a-despotism-let-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Despotism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/whatever-government-is-not-a-government-of-laws-is-a-despotism-let-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/daniel-webster-2347_despotism_whatever-government-is-not-a-government_729597.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/daniel-webster-2347_despotism_whatever-government-is-not-a-government_729597.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dd/daniel-webster-2347_despotism_whatever-government-is-not-a-government_729597.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whatever government is not a government of laws, is a despotism, let it be called what it may.” — Daniel Webster", "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": "Daniel Webster", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Whatever government is not a government...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/whatever-government-is-not-a-government-of-laws-is-a-despotism-let-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/whatever-government-is-not-a-government-of-laws-is-a-despotism-let-it/#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 } } ] } ```