--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you ask the government to impose…" description: "\"If you ask the government to impose morality, then moral questions will be decided by whoever has the most political power.\" — Harry Browne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/harry-browne-3285_asks_if-you-ask-the-government-to-impose-mora_3134626.jpg" --- # If you ask the government to impose morality, then moral… ![“If you ask the government to impose morality, then moral questions will be decided by whoever has the most political power.” quote by Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/harry-browne-3285_asks_if-you-ask-the-government-to-impose-mora_3134626.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/harry-browne-3285_asks_if-you-ask-the-government-to-impose-mora_3134626.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/harry-browne-3285_asks_if-you-ask-the-government-to-impose-mora_3134626.jpg) > “If you ask the government to impose morality, then moral questions will be decided by whoever has the most political power.” [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. Imposing morality through government lets those in power dictate ethical standards, undermining individual liberty. **In simple terms:** Power decides morality if government controls it. Key Takeaway Guard personal freedom against political moralism. Themes liberty politics ethics authority individualism Mood cautious critical thoughtful Type philosophical political ethical When to use this quote - voting - legislation - public policy - activism - civil discourse Key Concepts social contract political power moral relativism Questions to Reflect On - Who should decide moral norms in a free society? - How can we protect personal ethics from political domination? A Different Perspective Power can be abused, leading to oppression of minorities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-power/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [If you impose morality on people, they will find ways to circumvent their guilt. They will make offerings to temples - or other places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/if-you-impose-morality-on-people-they-will-find-ways-to-circumvent/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [Once Justin decided to go on the political scene, all the spotlights were on him. I think we've done pretty well finding a balance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-gregoire-trudeau/once-justin-decided-to-go-on-the-political-scene-all-the-spotlights/) [Sophie Gregoire Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-gregoire-trudeau/) > [Politicians have limited power. They can't impose morality on themselves. How can they impose it on the country?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-thomas/politicians-have-limited-power-they-can-t-impose-morality-on/) [Cal Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-thomas/) > [For those who say I can't impose my morality on others, I say just watch me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-scheidler/for-those-who-say-i-can-t-impose-my-morality-on-others-i-say-just/) Joseph Scheidler > [A Libertarian society of unfettered individualism spreads its benefits to virtually everyone - not just those who have the resources to seize political power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/a-libertarian-society-of-unfettered-individualism-spreads-its/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [We need to ask the moral questions: Do I have a right to be rich? 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The ethical and moral questions...in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kentridge/the-uncertain-and-imprecise-way-of-constructing-a-drawing-is/) [William Kentridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kentridge/) > [Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political moral questions of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/nonviolence-is-the-answer-to-the-crucial-political-moral-questions-of/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [For me, moral questions such as stem-cell research turn upon whether suffering is caused. In this case, clearly none is. The embryos have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/for-me-moral-questions-such-as-stem-cell-research-turn-upon-whether/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The great political questions are in their final analysis great moral questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/the-great-political-questions-are-in-their-final-analysis-great-moral/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) ## 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 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 Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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