--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That government is best which governs…" description: "\"“That government is best which governs least\"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/henry-david-thoreau-20_politics_that-government-is-best-which-governs-le_1671221.jpg" --- # That government is best which governs least"; and I should… ![“That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe—"That government is best which governs not at all"; and” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/henry-david-thoreau-20_politics_that-government-is-best-which-governs-le_1671221.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/henry-david-thoreau-20_politics_that-government-is-best-which-governs-le_1671221.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/henry-david-thoreau-20_politics_that-government-is-best-which-governs-le_1671221.jpg) > ““That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe—"That government is best which governs not at all"; and”” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The ideal government is one that interferes as little as possible, ultimately none at all, reflecting a belief in minimal state control. **In simple terms:** Less government is better. Key Takeaway Advocate for personal liberty and limited authority. Themes government freedom politics Mood skeptical thoughtful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy debates - activism - community organizing - personal decision‑making Key Concepts libertarianism anarchism Questions to Reflect On - Is zero government realistic? - What responsibilities do citizens have without authority? A Different Perspective Practical governance often requires some regulation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-heartily-accept-the-motto-that-government-is-best-which-governs/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/that-government-is-best-which-governs-the-least-because-its-people/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“That government is best that governs not at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/that-government-is-best-that-governs-not-at-all/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [That government is best which governs not at all; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/that-government-is-best-which-governs-not-at-all-and-when-men-are/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [That government is best which governs least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/that-government-is-best-which-governs-least/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Government is best which governs least](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/government-is-best-which-governs-least/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [That government is best which governs least, because its people discipline themselves. If we are directed from Washington (heads of an organization) when to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/that-government-is-best-which-governs-least-because-its-people/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It is perfectly true that that government is best which governs least. It is equally true that that government is best which provides most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/it-is-perfectly-true-that-that-government-is-best-which-governs-least/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [A famous, very often quoted phrase says: "That government is best, which governs least." I do not believe this to be a correct description…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/a-famous-very-often-quoted-phrase-says-that-government-is-best-which/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [The government that governs best, governs best!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/the-government-that-governs-best-governs-best/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-heartily-accept-the-motto-that-government-is-best-which-governs-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [He thinks like a philosopher, but governs like a king.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/he-thinks-like-a-philosopher-but-governs-like-a-king/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [ If I had to fault President \[Barack\] Obama, I would say that sometimes governs like a visitor from a morally superior civilization. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/if-i-had-to-fault-president-barack-obama-i-would-say-that-sometimes/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [It may be true that the government that governs best governs least Unfortunately, the same is also true of the government that governs worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bowles/it-may-be-true-that-the-government-that-governs-best-governs-least/) [Jane Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bowles/) > [I believe that government is too large, costs too much, spends too much, and has too much regulatory power in our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-walberg/i-believe-that-government-is-too-large-costs-too-much-spends-too-much/) [Tim Walberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-walberg/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. 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