--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Government is force, pure and simple…" description: "\"Government is force, pure and simple. There's no way to sugar-coat that. And because government is force, it will attract the worst elements of society..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d2/harry-browne-3285_accepting_government-is-force-pure-and-simple-ther_3203313.jpg" --- # Government is force, pure and simple. There's no way to… ![“Government is force, pure and simple. There's no way to sugar-coat that. And because government is force, it will attract the worst elements of society - people who want to use government to avoid having to earn their living and to avoid having to persuade others to accept their ideas voluntarily.” quote by Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d2/harry-browne-3285_accepting_government-is-force-pure-and-simple-ther_3203313.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d2/harry-browne-3285_accepting_government-is-force-pure-and-simple-ther_3203313.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d2/harry-browne-3285_accepting_government-is-force-pure-and-simple-ther_3203313.jpg) > “Government is force, pure and simple. There's no way to sugar-coat that. And because government is force, it will attract the worst elements of society - people who want to use government to avoid having to earn their living and to avoid having to persuade others to accept their ideas voluntarily.” [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Government is inherently coercive and attracts those who avoid personal responsibility. **In simple terms:** Government forces people; it draws lazy individuals. Key Takeaway Demand personal responsibility, not reliance on force. Themes government force responsibility society Mood skeptical critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy debates - tax discussions - community organizing - employment decisions Key Concepts political theory libertarianism Questions to Reflect On - Do you see government as protector or oppressor? - How can individuals balance freedom with collective needs? A Different Perspective Some view government as a protective institution, not just force. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [“Government could avoid having opinions about so many things if it would quit subsidizing so many things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/government-could-avoid-having-opinions-about-so-many-things-if-it/) [George will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [The proper and limited use of government is to invoke a common justice and keep the peace - and that is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/the-proper-and-limited-use-of-government-is-to-invoke-a-common/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [I believe that government is for the use of the people, and not the people for the use of the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-smith/i-believe-that-government-is-for-the-use-of-the-people-and-not-the/) [Gerrit Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-smith/) > [If I was in government and running government, I think I would use the government data, because I wouldn't know where else to look,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/if-i-was-in-government-and-running-government-i-think-i-would-use-the/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [Over the years, I think, more and more, I've come to recognize that my parents - not in a didactic or explicit way, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cordray/over-the-years-i-think-more-and-more-i-ve-come-to-recognize-that-my/) [Richard Cordray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cordray/) > [An occasional insurrection will not weigh against the inconveniences of a government of force, such as are monarchies and aristocracies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/an-occasional-insurrection-will-not-weigh-against-the-inconveniences/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Since when do we let the government decide what is or isn't good for us? What the hell does Congress know about nutrition, anyway?...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-badnarik/since-when-do-we-let-the-government-decide-what-is-or-isn-t-good-for/) [Michael Badnarik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-badnarik/) > [“They challenged the widely accepted post–World War II consensus that an activist government was a force for public good. Instead, they argued for “limited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/they-challenged-the-widely-accepted-post-world-war-ii-consensus-that/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [Government force is derived from the sum of the physical force each citizen could exert which by one citizen himself would be ineffective, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/government-force-is-derived-from-the-sum-of-the-physical-force-each/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [The essence of government is force, and most often that force is used to accomplish evil ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/the-essence-of-government-is-force-and-most-often-that-force-is-used/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [No government can make me wear a veil, no government can force me not to wear it either](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/no-government-can-make-me-wear-a-veil-no-government-can-force-me-not/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [Some of the worst abuses of government force in recent years were precipitated by technical and victimless gun-law violations. For example, the BATF claimed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-kopel/some-of-the-worst-abuses-of-government-force-in-recent-years-were/) [Dave Kopel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-kopel/) > [A constitution should be framed so as not to impede the action of government, nor force the government to its violation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-constitution-should-be-framed-so-as-not-to-impede-the-action-of/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [I got Mary pregnant and man that's all she wrote. And for my 19th birthday, I got a union card and a factory coat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-got-mary-pregnant-and-man-that-s-all-she-wrote-and-for-my-19th/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“coats every surface. The heat builds up and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/coats-every-surface-the-heat-builds-up-and/) [Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/) ## More by Harry Browne > [If younger people see older people who haven't planned ahead and have to rely on charity, the young will be more likely to provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/if-younger-people-see-older-people-who-haven-t-planned-ahead-and-have/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [Everything we know about human nature and about government tells us that individuals using their own money will achieve far more good for themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/everything-we-know-about-human-nature-and-about-government-tells-us/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [You don't have to buy from anyone. You don't have to work at any particular job. You don't have to participate in any given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/you-don-t-have-to-buy-from-anyone-you-don-t-have-to-work-at-any/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [The American way was for commerce, personal relationships, and religion to be voluntary. No one was forced to participate in something he didn't want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/the-american-way-was-for-commerce-personal-relationships-and-religion/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [Conservatives say the government can't end poverty by force, but they believe it can use force to make people moral. Liberals say government can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/conservatives-say-the-government-can-t-end-poverty-by-force-but-they/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [Everyone will experience the consequences of his own acts. 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Only people who bear the consequences of their own acts will care about those consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/only-free-people-have-an-incentive-to-be-virtuous-only-people-who/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [So what is government?... Very simply, it is an agency of coercion. Of course, there are other agencies of coercion - such as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/so-what-is-government-very-simply-it-is-an-agency-of-coercion-of/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [The Constitution isn't written in Chinese, Swahili or Sanskrit. It's in plain English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/the-constitution-isn-t-written-in-chinese-swahili-or-sanskrit-it-s-in/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [The press is hostile to the idea of liberty. Most people in the press are for big government. Most people think that the solution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/the-press-is-hostile-to-the-idea-of-liberty-most-people-in-the-press/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [There's nothing shameful in acknowledging that you don't have the answers to every question about life. Just accept the fact that you know only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/there-s-nothing-shameful-in-acknowledging-that-you-don-t-have-the/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [Forcing people to be generous isn't humanitarian, effective, compassionate or moral. Only acts that are truly voluntary for all concerned can be truly compassionate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/forcing-people-to-be-generous-isn-t-humanitarian-effective/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [Democratic politicians want to solve the crisis of poor education by taking more of your money and using it to reduce classroom sizes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/democratic-politicians-want-to-solve-the-crisis-of-poor-education-by/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) [Explore all 134 Harry Browne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. 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I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Government is force, pure and simple. There's no way to sugar-coat that. 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