--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My philosophy is not a bean-counting…" description: "\"My philosophy is not a bean-counting, accounting 'look at this.' It is a philosophy that smaller government is better government, and government that i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/john-bolton-4806_accounting_my-philosophy-is-not-a-bean-counting-acc_299308.png" --- # My philosophy is not a bean-counting, accounting 'look at… ![“My philosophy is not a bean-counting, accounting 'look at this.' It is a philosophy that smaller government is better government, and government that is closer to the people is best of all.” quote by John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/john-bolton-4806_accounting_my-philosophy-is-not-a-bean-counting-acc_299308.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/john-bolton-4806_accounting_my-philosophy-is-not-a-bean-counting-acc_299308.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/576/john-bolton-4806_accounting_my-philosophy-is-not-a-bean-counting-acc_299308.png) > “My philosophy is not a bean-counting, accounting 'look at this.' It is a philosophy that smaller government is better government, and government that is closer to the people is best of all.” [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Small government is preferable; proximity to people makes governance better. **In simple terms:** Prefer limited, local government. Key Takeaway Support policies that keep government small and close. Themes politics governance localism efficiency Mood analytical pragmatic Type political policy When to use this quote - legislative drafting - community organizing - budget planning - public service Key Concepts public policy federalism decentralization Questions to Reflect On - How can local governments handle national crises? - When is central authority necessary? A Different Perspective Complex issues may need larger coordination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Smaller government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smaller-government/) ## Related quotes > [The demand of our people in 1980 is not for smaller government or bigger government but for better government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/the-demand-of-our-people-in-1980-is-not-for-smaller-government-or/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [I believe that smaller government is better government. But I also believe that in the areas where government does play a legitimate role, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-walker/i-believe-that-smaller-government-is-better-government-but-i-also/) [Scott Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-walker/) > [To speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/to-speak-practically-and-as-a-citizen-unlike-those-who-call/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-ask-for-not-at-once-no-government-but-at-once-a-better-government/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [If you are for smaller government, then our candidate is for you. We are for better government and smaller government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/if-you-are-for-smaller-government-then-our-candidate-is-for-you-we/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [Because of our Congressional committee system, our government is closer to a gerontocracy than a democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-frankel/because-of-our-congressional-committee-system-our-government-is/) [Charles Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-frankel/) > [For me to get out in the congressional district that I represent and see all the things that we manufacture there, produce there, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-ribble/for-me-to-get-out-in-the-congressional-district-that-i-represent-and/) Reid Ribble > [People understand that they can spend their money better than the government can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/people-understand-that-they-can-spend-their-money-better-than-the/) [Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/) > [Lord, the money we do spend on Government and it's not one bit better than the government we got for one-third the money twenty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/lord-the-money-we-do-spend-on-government-and-it-s-not-one-bit-better/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [We need better government, no doubt about it. 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In any event, I do pay taxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/i-think-that-my-foundation-uses-the-money-better-than-the-government/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [I believe we will have better government when men and women discuss public issues together and make their decisions on the basis of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/i-believe-we-will-have-better-government-when-men-and-women-discuss/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) ## More by John Bolton > [There is no excuse for waste, fraud, and abuse in the Defense Department budget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/there-is-no-excuse-for-waste-fraud-and-abuse-in-the-defense/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [You know, as somebody who writes op-eds and appears on the television, I appreciate as well as anybody that... there is a limit to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/you-know-as-somebody-who-writes-op-eds-and-appears-on-the-television/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [The solution to North Korea is the reunification of the Korean Peninsula. China could influence the North; it supplies 80 to 90 percent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/the-solution-to-north-korea-is-the-reunification-of-the-korean/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [If I were doing the Security Council today, I'd have one permanent member, the United States, because that's the real reflection of the distribution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/if-i-were-doing-the-security-council-today-i-d-have-one-permanent/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [There's no such thing as the United Nations. If the U.N. secretary building in New York lost 10 stories, it wouldn't make a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/there-s-no-such-thing-as-the-united-nations-if-the-u-n-secretary/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [Just like Sept. 11, only with nuclear weapons this time, that's the threat. I think that is the threat. I think it's just facing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/just-like-sept-11-only-with-nuclear-weapons-this-time-that-s-the/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [If Iran obtains nuclear weapons, then almost certainly Saudi Arabia will do the same, as will Egypt, Turkey and perhaps others in the region.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/if-iran-obtains-nuclear-weapons-then-almost-certainly-saudi-arabia/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [Iran is barely over 50% Persian, and Arabs, Baluchis, Azeris, Kurds and many other groups feel left out of the society. That regime has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/iran-is-barely-over-50-persian-and-arabs-baluchis-azeris-kurds-and/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [Well, you could take several stories off the buildings of most U.S. government agencies and we'd all probably be better for it too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/well-you-could-take-several-stories-off-the-buildings-of-most-u-s/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [There's no religious test under the constitution. That's what it says. Period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/there-s-no-religious-test-under-the-constitution-that-s-what-it-says/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [Reform is not a one-night stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/reform-is-not-a-one-night-stand/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [The Iranian government is the government that supplied the arms on the Karin-A to the Palestinian Authority several years ago, they are the world's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/the-iranian-government-is-the-government-that-supplied-the-arms-on/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [You don't need to spend tens of millions of dollars on political consultants to tell you what you think when you already know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/you-don-t-need-to-spend-tens-of-millions-of-dollars-on-political/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [North Korea is going to get away with keeping its nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/north-korea-is-going-to-get-away-with-keeping-its-nuclear-weapons/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [There's no doubt that Iran funds and supplies Hamas with weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/there-s-no-doubt-that-iran-funds-and-supplies-hamas-with-weapons/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) [Explore all 106 John Bolton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) ## More Accounting quotes > [We do not know enough about how the present will lead into the future. 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Resort to inner happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/outer-happiness-has-diminishing-marginal-utility-the-more-it-grows/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [Regulations for international accounting and funding will have to be examined to identify policies that inadvertently discourage institutional investors from putting their resources into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/regulations-for-international-accounting-and-funding-will-have-to-be/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [There is no business like show business. There is also no business like certified public accounting, but that doesn't rhyme as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-shaw-gardner/there-is-no-business-like-show-business-there-is-also-no-business/) Craig Shaw Gardner > [“With great goals, comes the high costs; both fixed and variable. 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Spend passionately.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/with-great-goals-comes-the-high-costs-both-fixed-and-variable-time-is/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [The reaction of weak management to weak operations is often weak accounting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-reaction-of-weak-management-to-weak-operations-is-often-weak/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [“Financial statements are my novels, I am a Chartered Accountant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/financial-statements-are-my-novels-i-am-a-chartered-accountant/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [The religious hypothesis, therefore, must be considered only as a particular method of accounting for the visible phenomena of the universe: but no just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/the-religious-hypothesis-therefore-must-be-considered-only-as-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Accounting consequences do not influence our operating or capital-allocation decisions. When acquisition costs are similar, we much prefer to purchase $2 of earnings that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/accounting-consequences-do-not-influence-our-operating-or-capital/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [By their victory, the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions and other units of the Fifth Amphibious Corps have made an accounting to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/by-their-victory-the-3rd-4th-and-5th-marine-divisions-and-other-units/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [“Invest in self-improvement, be it for learning, be it for earning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/invest-in-self-improvement-be-it-for-learning-be-it-for-earning/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [“In the race to scale a startup, overlooking financial planning is like to building a skyscraper on shaky ground. True growth stems from decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-hishmeh/in-the-race-to-scale-a-startup-overlooking-financial-planning-is-like/) Jason Hishmeh > [One of the things that we're missing from our political dialogue right now is the idea that the United States is a home. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-miller/one-of-the-things-that-we-re-missing-from-our-political-dialogue/) [Stephen Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-miller/) > [There's no business like show business, but there are several businesses like accounting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/there-s-no-business-like-show-business-but-there-are-several/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [“Debit the knowledge; credit the books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/debit-the-knowledge-credit-the-books/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) Browse all 352 Accounting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My philosophy is not a bean-counting, accounting 'look at this.' 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