--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that the best that government can…" description: "\"I think that the best that government can do for you and I as individuals is to empower you and I to make decisions that only you and I should make.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f16/gary-johnson-3710_best_i-think-that-the-best-that-government-ca_37482.png" --- # I think that the best that government can do for you and I… ![“I think that the best that government can do for you and I as individuals is to empower you and I to make decisions that only you and I should make.” quote by Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f16/gary-johnson-3710_best_i-think-that-the-best-that-government-ca_37482.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f16/gary-johnson-3710_best_i-think-that-the-best-that-government-ca_37482.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f16/gary-johnson-3710_best_i-think-that-the-best-that-government-ca_37482.png) > “I think that the best that government can do for you and I as individuals is to empower you and I to make decisions that only you and I should make.” [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that government's optimal role is to enable personal autonomy rather than dictate choices, emphasizing individual decision‑making authority. **In simple terms:** Government should empower personal choice. Key Takeaway Freedom over paternalism. Themes individual autonomy limited government personal responsibility libertarianism empowerment Mood assertive optimistic Type political philosophical When to use this quote - voting on policies - choosing healthcare plans - selecting education pathways - managing personal finances - making lifestyle choices Key Concepts self‑determination political philosophy Practical Applications - policy design that decentralizes authority - educational programs that teach decision‑making skills Questions to Reflect On - How does personal autonomy affect societal cohesion? - When might collective action outweigh individual choice? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Individuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individuals/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [It's not just that government has failed us. It's not just that we have failed ourselves. It's government. It's individuals. It's sort of everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-vance-2/it-s-not-just-that-government-has-failed-us-it-s-not-just-that-we/) [J. D. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-vance-2/) > [In all the more advanced communities the great majority of things are worse done by the intervention of government than the individuals most interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/in-all-the-more-advanced-communities-the-great-majority-of-things-are/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [“Let us admit that some government programs and personnel are efficient and effective, and others are not. Let us acknowledge that when it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/let-us-admit-that-some-government-programs-and-personnel-are/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [I want to empower and educate and inspire individuals who are giving to give in a way that is more meaningful. The more meaningful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-arrillaga-andreessen/i-want-to-empower-and-educate-and-inspire-individuals-who-are-giving/) [Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-arrillaga-andreessen/) > [We live in America. We live in a free society where we are able to make choices. It's about giving individuals freedoms and holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/we-live-in-america-we-live-in-a-free-society-where-we-are-able-to/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [The best government in the world, the best religion, the best traditions of any people, depend upon the good or evil of the men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/the-best-government-in-the-world-the-best-religion-the-best/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [Lets tell young people the best books are yet to written; the best painting, the best government the best of everything is yet to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-erskine/lets-tell-young-people-the-best-books-are-yet-to-written-the-best/) [John Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-erskine/) > [The best government is not the one that you can serve in the longest, but the government that's closest to the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brauchler/the-best-government-is-not-the-one-that-you-can-serve-in-the-longest/) [George Brauchler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brauchler/) > [Which is the best government? That which teaches us to govern ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/which-is-the-best-government-that-which-teaches-us-to-govern-ourselves/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Every organization of our government, the best government in the world, is crumbling to pieces. Those who have it in their hands are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/every-organization-of-our-government-the-best-government-in-the-world/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [Do not adopt the best system of government, but the one most likely to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-bolivar/do-not-adopt-the-best-system-of-government-but-the-one-most-likely-to/) [Simon Bolivar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-bolivar/) > [The best government is that which teaches us to govern ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-best-government-is-that-which-teaches-us-to-govern-ourselves/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The best government is a benevolent tyranny tempered by an occasional assassination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/the-best-government-is-a-benevolent-tyranny-tempered-by-an-occasional/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [The role of government has never been to plan every detail or dictate every outcome. At its best, government has simply knocked away barriers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-role-of-government-has-never-been-to-plan-every-detail-or-dictate/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [...open-market democratic capitalism isn't the best system of government in the world, it just works the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ringo/open-market-democratic-capitalism-isn-t-the-best-system-of-government/) [John Ringo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ringo/) ## More by Gary Johnson > [As I told the students every time I visited a campus, you are the director of your own movie, and if you aren't enjoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/as-i-told-the-students-every-time-i-visited-a-campus-you-are-the/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [Using a broad brushstroke, I think Libertarian - most of America are socially accepting and fiscally responsible. I'm in that category. I think, broadly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/using-a-broad-brushstroke-i-think-libertarian-most-of-america-are/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [We do live in an environment of crony capitalism, and the main reason we do is that loopholes are for sale, and both parties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/we-do-live-in-an-environment-of-crony-capitalism-and-the-main-reason/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I support gay unions. I think the government should get out of the marriage business completely - leave marriages to the churches. And grant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-support-gay-unions-i-think-the-government-should-get-out-of-the/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I just feel abandoned. And I feel, I don't feel represented by the Republican Party. I have always had to defend the social side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-just-feel-abandoned-and-i-feel-i-don-t-feel-represented-by-the/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [Am I not correct in saying that Iran has never voiced that they are developing a nuclear weapon, nor do they have any intention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/am-i-not-correct-in-saying-that-iran-has-never-voiced-that-they-are/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [It is clear from the reaction to our campaign so far that our message is resonating. I look forward to continuing to take this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/it-is-clear-from-the-reaction-to-our-campaign-so-far-that-our-message/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I leave abortion to the woman. I just fundamentally end there. I absolutely support a woman's right to choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-leave-abortion-to-the-woman-i-just-fundamentally-end-there-i/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [Politics is a herd mentality. Politicians don't really lead. Politicians reflect what they think is consensus opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/politics-is-a-herd-mentality-politicians-don-t-really-lead/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [One of the things government should be around for is to deal with catastrophes. It should do that well. To me, that's a government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/one-of-the-things-government-should-be-around-for-is-to-deal-with/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [My issue with campaign finance is 100 percent disclosure. Wear a suit with patches from your big contributors. Depending on the size of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/my-issue-with-campaign-finance-is-100-percent-disclosure-wear-a-suit/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I would say that a wasted vote is voting for anybody you don't believe in. If you believe in the third party, that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-would-say-that-a-wasted-vote-is-voting-for-anybody-you-don-t/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I'm one of those who believe the bumper sticker: If you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns. The first people who are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-m-one-of-those-who-believe-the-bumper-sticker-if-you-outlaw-guns/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I'm ready for a different America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-m-ready-for-a-different-america/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [I was your C student. I paid attention in the classes that were about how to get elected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-was-your-c-student-i-paid-attention-in-the-classes-that-were-about/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) [Explore all 123 Gary Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) ## More Best quotes > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/) [Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [It's no wonder Pep is one of the best coaches in the world. When I knew I could work with him I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/it-s-no-wonder-pep-is-one-of-the-best-coaches-in-the-world-when-i/) [Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/) > [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [Life is where you love people and use things not use people and love things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/life-is-where-you-love-people-and-use-things-not-use-people-and-love/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/) [Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/) > [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. The best officials are the ones you never notice. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-scott/the-human-element-should-be-the-two-players-on-the-court-not-the/) Gene Scott > [I'm looking to fight the best guys in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-rodriguez/i-m-looking-to-fight-the-best-guys-in-the-world/) [Yair Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-rodriguez/) > [Batley and Spen has a high proportion of people working in manufacturing, and we can boast the full range of industries, including high-skilled, precision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/batley-and-spen-has-a-high-proportion-of-people-working-in/) [Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/) > [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. I genuinely believe that 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-is-no-secret-that-i-have-read-the-da-vinci-code-several-times-i/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [Any position I was going to be in, I was going to make the best of it. I always do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/any-position-i-was-going-to-be-in-i-was-going-to-make-the-best-of-it/) [Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/) Browse all 21,674 Best quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think that the best that government can do for you and I as individuals is to empower you and I to make decisions that only you and I should make.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gary Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-think-that-the-best-that-government-can-do-for-you-and-i-as/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Best" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-think-that-the-best-that-government-can-do-for-you-and-i-as/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f16/gary-johnson-3710_best_i-think-that-the-best-that-government-ca_37482.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f16/gary-johnson-3710_best_i-think-that-the-best-that-government-ca_37482.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f16/gary-johnson-3710_best_i-think-that-the-best-that-government-ca_37482.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think that the best that government can do for you and I as individuals is to empower you and I to make…” — Gary Johnson", "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": "Gary Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think that the best that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-think-that-the-best-that-government-can-do-for-you-and-i-as/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/i-think-that-the-best-that-government-can-do-for-you-and-i-as/#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 } } ] } ```