--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Freedom rests on a rational distrust of…" description: "\"Freedom rests on a rational distrust of government; government will always use its power to benefit the incumbent administration.\" — Jacob Rees-Mogg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/jacob-rees-mogg-5991_always_freedom-rests-on-a-rational-distrust-of_2588293.jpg" --- # Freedom rests on a rational distrust of government… ![“Freedom rests on a rational distrust of government; government will always use its power to benefit the incumbent administration.” quote by Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/jacob-rees-mogg-5991_always_freedom-rests-on-a-rational-distrust-of_2588293.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/jacob-rees-mogg-5991_always_freedom-rests-on-a-rational-distrust-of_2588293.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/jacob-rees-mogg-5991_always_freedom-rests-on-a-rational-distrust-of_2588293.jpg) > “Freedom rests on a rational distrust of government; government will always use its power to benefit the incumbent administration.” [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Skepticism toward government is essential because power tends to serve those already in authority. **In simple terms:** Question government power. Key Takeaway Maintain healthy distrust of authority. Themes politics freedom accountability Mood critical serious Type political reflective When to use this quote - voting - activism - public debate Key Concepts political theory civic duty power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens ensure accountability? - What checks balance power effectively? A Different Perspective Blind distrust can lead to cynicism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Distrust Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distrust-government-270209/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-government/) [Government Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-use-421761/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Rational Distrust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational-distrust-1838003/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [At no time in the past century has public distrust of the government been so broadly distributed across the political spectrum, as it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-zimmermann/at-no-time-in-the-past-century-has-public-distrust-of-the-government/) [Phil Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-zimmermann/) > [Americans have always evinced some distrust of government, but the current situation has exacerbated this to a degree that may be unprecedented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-alterman/americans-have-always-evinced-some-distrust-of-government-but-the/) [Eric Alterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-alterman/) > [We are a nation founded on distrust of government power, and questioning that power is essential to promoting transparency and accountability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/we-are-a-nation-founded-on-distrust-of-government-power-and/) [Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/) > [I really believe there is something in the nature of a democracy that naturally leads people to distrust the government, to assume because a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/i-really-believe-there-is-something-in-the-nature-of-a-democracy-that/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [We live in a time of such great distrust in government, and I really do think that that poses a deep, deep concern and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/we-live-in-a-time-of-such-great-distrust-in-government-and-i-really/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) > [It is not the role of government to use the taxation and welfare system as a tool to level the playing field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hockey/it-is-not-the-role-of-government-to-use-the-taxation-and-welfare/) [Joe Hockey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hockey/) > [“But how is that different from any other godforsaken stretch of coast half off the grid?” There were still dozens of them all across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/but-how-is-that-different-from-any-other-godforsaken-stretch-of-coast/) [Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) > [No matter how deeply you distrust the government's judgment, you are too trusting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/no-matter-how-deeply-you-distrust-the-government-s-judgment-you-are/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [“We've got to simplify, pull back all these layers of supposed complexity , and get down to the essentials. If we want people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-newsom/we-ve-got-to-simplify-pull-back-all-these-layers-of-supposed/) [Gavin Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-newsom/) > [Distrust of government isn't baseless cynicism. It's realism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/distrust-of-government-isn-t-baseless-cynicism-it-s-realism/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [I am pleased to report that Texas is known for having one of the strongest set of open government laws in our Nation. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/i-am-pleased-to-report-that-texas-is-known-for-having-one-of-the/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [Practice safe government. Use kingdoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/practice-safe-government-use-kingdoms/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our country was founded on a distrust of government. Our founding fathers gave power to the people to keep an eye on government. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/our-country-was-founded-on-a-distrust-of-government-our-founding/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [It is the policy of the federal government to use all resources at its disposal to make our financial system stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/it-is-the-policy-of-the-federal-government-to-use-all-resources-at/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [To blindly trust government is to automatically vest it with excessive power. To distrust government is simply to trust humanity - to trust in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/to-blindly-trust-government-is-to-automatically-vest-it-with/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) ## More by Jacob Rees-Mogg > [It is hard to see taxing plastic bags as one of the great issues of our time that merits the foremost place in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/it-is-hard-to-see-taxing-plastic-bags-as-one-of-the-great-issues-of/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [I believe that politicians should implement the promises that they've given in manifestos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/i-believe-that-politicians-should-implement-the-promises-that-they-ve/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [I think that conservative principles have a broad appeal, and you should state them boldly, and the point of a Conservative election is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/i-think-that-conservative-principles-have-a-broad-appeal-and-you/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [Subsidising inefficient businesses does not encourage them to become more competitive and means that extra money has to be taken from tax payers for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/subsidising-inefficient-businesses-does-not-encourage-them-to-become/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [It is of considerable importance that politicians stick to their commitments or do not make such commitments in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/it-is-of-considerable-importance-that-politicians-stick-to-their/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [If we want to change a law, we can do that in Parliament. That is a democratic right that has often been taken from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/if-we-want-to-change-a-law-we-can-do-that-in-parliament-that-is-a/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [We are the Conservative and Unionist party. No Conservative would do anything to harm the union, and that crucially includes Northern Ireland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/we-are-the-conservative-and-unionist-party-no-conservative-would-do/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [I think, with a negotiation, you have to go in knowing what you want, knowing what your bottom line is, and knowing what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/i-think-with-a-negotiation-you-have-to-go-in-knowing-what-you-want/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [A constitutional monarchy requires the monarch to be above politics but to be fully informed about politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/a-constitutional-monarchy-requires-the-monarch-to-be-above-politics/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [It is obviously sensible the crossing of a border ought not to protect a criminal from the consequences of his crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/it-is-obviously-sensible-the-crossing-of-a-border-ought-not-to/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [Press freedom has great virtues. It is not about irresponsible scandal-mongering, although that may be part of the picture. It is a means of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/press-freedom-has-great-virtues-it-is-not-about-irresponsible-scandal/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [In the U.S., free speech and the press are protected by the First Amendment. It has a clarity unmatched by modern legislators and declares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/in-the-u-s-free-speech-and-the-press-are-protected-by-the-first/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [I can't see the point in being in politics if you're not yourself. If you're simply interested in implementing other people's policies, then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/i-can-t-see-the-point-in-being-in-politics-if-you-re-not-yourself-if/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [When Margaret Thatcher was leader, she and Michael Heseltine were hardly soulmates, but she would not have allowed personal rivalry to take the heat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/when-margaret-thatcher-was-leader-she-and-michael-heseltine-were/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [London's central role in the financial market would be undermined if wealthy foreigners did not want to come here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/london-s-central-role-in-the-financial-market-would-be-undermined-if/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) [Explore all 100 Jacob Rees-Mogg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Freedom rests on a rational distrust of government; government will always use its power to benefit the incumbent administration.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jacob Rees-Mogg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/freedom-rests-on-a-rational-distrust-of-government-government-will/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/freedom-rests-on-a-rational-distrust-of-government-government-will/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/jacob-rees-mogg-5991_always_freedom-rests-on-a-rational-distrust-of_2588293.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/jacob-rees-mogg-5991_always_freedom-rests-on-a-rational-distrust-of_2588293.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/jacob-rees-mogg-5991_always_freedom-rests-on-a-rational-distrust-of_2588293.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Freedom rests on a rational distrust of government; government will always use its power to benefit the…” — Jacob Rees-Mogg", "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": "Jacob Rees-Mogg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Freedom rests on a rational distrust...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/freedom-rests-on-a-rational-distrust-of-government-government-will/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/freedom-rests-on-a-rational-distrust-of-government-government-will/#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 } } ] } ```