--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the purpose of government is for…" description: "\"“I think the purpose of government is for a population to accomplish its mutually agreed-upon goals without every citizen having to accomplish those go..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/robert-peate-23717_fire-department_i-think-the-purpose-of-government-is-for_184456.jpg" --- # I think the purpose of government is for a population to… ![“I think the purpose of government is for a population to accomplish its mutually agreed-upon goals without every citizen having to accomplish those goals for him- or herself. Some examples: we have a police force so we don’t need to have vigilante mobs. We have a post office so we don’t need to…” quote by Robert Peate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/robert-peate-23717_fire-department_i-think-the-purpose-of-government-is-for_184456.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/robert-peate-23717_fire-department_i-think-the-purpose-of-government-is-for_184456.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6a/robert-peate-23717_fire-department_i-think-the-purpose-of-government-is-for_184456.jpg) > ““I think the purpose of government is for a population to accomplish its mutually agreed-upon goals without every citizen having to accomplish those goals for him- or herself. Some examples: we have a police force so we don’t need to have vigilante mobs. We have a post office so we don’t need to deliver our own mail across the entire nation. We have a fire department so we don’t have to put out our own fires. In return for the services we agree on, we pay a fee. We just don’t all agree on what the services and what the fees should be. I personally think it’s sad we don’t all agree on single-payer health care. We agree on paying taxes to save a house from fire but not a body from cancer? Why do we care more about our property than about ourselves?”” [Robert Peate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-peate/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage argues that government’s role is to provide shared services so individuals don’t have to do everything themselves, but society disagrees on which services and fees are appropriate. **In simple terms:** Government should supply common services, but people differ on what to fund. Key Takeaway Agree on essential services and fair funding. Themes government public services taxation collective responsibility healthcare public safety Mood thoughtful inquisitive reflective Type philosophical policy ethical When to use this quote - tax policy - healthcare reform - public safety planning - community services - civic education Key Concepts social contract public good collective action Questions to Reflect On - What services should be universally provided? - How can we balance individual freedom with collective needs? A Different Perspective Consensus on services is hard; interests conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fire department](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire-department/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Health care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care/) [Paying taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paying-taxes/) [Police force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police-force/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Purpose of government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-of-government/) ## Related quotes > [“The purpose of government, and therefore of law, is not to cause justice to prevail, but rather, to prevent injustice from reigning. Justice is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-befumo/the-purpose-of-government-and-therefore-of-law-is-not-to-cause/) [Joseph Befumo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-befumo/) > [The purpose of government is to reign in the rights of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/the-purpose-of-government-is-to-reign-in-the-rights-of-the-people/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness. Government exists for the interests of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-purpose-of-government-is-to-enable-the-people-of-a-nation-to-live/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The sheer number of government employees and welfare recipients effectively transforms the purpose of government from maintaining order to confiscating as much as possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/the-sheer-number-of-government-employees-and-welfare-recipients/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [The purpose of government is to rein in the rights of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-purpose-of-government-is-to-rein-in-the-rights-of-the-people/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [I am more interested in the purpose of government than its mechanics-though the means should at least be good enough to lead to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aminu-kano/i-am-more-interested-in-the-purpose-of-government-than-its-mechanics/) [Aminu Kano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aminu-kano/) > [The purpose of government is for those who run it to plunder those who do not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-dilorenzo/the-purpose-of-government-is-for-those-who-run-it-to-plunder-those/) [Thomas DiLorenzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-dilorenzo/) > [Surely by now there can be few here who still believe the purpose of government is to protect us from the destructive activities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/surely-by-now-there-can-be-few-here-who-still-believe-the-purpose-of/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [The fundamental purpose of government is to protect its citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/the-fundamental-purpose-of-government-is-to-protect-its-citizens/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [The good of the people must be the great purpose of government. By the laws of nature and of reason, the governors are invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/the-good-of-the-people-must-be-the-great-purpose-of-government-by-the/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [I have always felt that the real purpose of government is to enhance the lives of people and that a leader can best do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/i-have-always-felt-that-the-real-purpose-of-government-is-to-enhance/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [The most fundamental purpose of government is defense, not empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-sobran/the-most-fundamental-purpose-of-government-is-defense-not-empire/) [Joseph Sobran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-sobran/) > [The Founding Father expressed in words for all to read the ideal of Government based upon the dignity of the individual. That ideal previously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/the-founding-father-expressed-in-words-for-all-to-read-the-ideal-of/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Left to me, the whole purpose of government is for the security of the citizens, like the security of lives and property.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibrahim-babangida/left-to-me-the-whole-purpose-of-government-is-for-the-security-of-the/) [Ibrahim Babangida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibrahim-babangida/) > [I am absolutely opposed to a national ID card. This is a total contradiction of what a free society is all about. The purpose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/i-am-absolutely-opposed-to-a-national-id-card-this-is-a-total/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) ## More by Robert Peate > [“I have acquired you, and now I will determine your value to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-peate/i-have-acquired-you-and-now-i-will-determine-your-value-to-me/) [Robert Peate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-peate/) > [“Work or die’—this is the essence of slavery, of compulsion. And yet this is our world. Most of our world is enslaved but does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-peate/work-or-die-this-is-the-essence-of-slavery-of-compulsion-and-yet-this/) [Robert Peate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-peate/) > [“If you make others think, you will be feared. If you disagree with them, you will be disliked. If you condemn them, they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-peate/if-you-make-others-think-you-will-be-feared-if-you-disagree-with-them/) [Robert Peate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-peate/) > [“To be a liberal is to care about more than one’s own belly or roof. It is to care about the rights of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-peate/to-be-a-liberal-is-to-care-about-more-than-one-s-own-belly-or-roof-it/) [Robert Peate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-peate/) > [“There’s nothing I love more than seeing liberals fight each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-peate/there-s-nothing-i-love-more-than-seeing-liberals-fight-each-other/) [Robert Peate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-peate/) > [“I support the right of the individual, the right of the most individuals to get what they want. 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How about ‘I’m an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-peate/persons-like-you-say-i-m-an-individual-therefore-i-oppose-any-power/) [Robert Peate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-peate/) > [“The Planet Earth is a cesspool of avarice and apathy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-peate/the-planet-earth-is-a-cesspool-of-avarice-and-apathy/) [Robert Peate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-peate/) > [“The truth! Since when have the majority on Earth cared about the truth?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-peate/the-truth-since-when-have-the-majority-on-earth-cared-about-the-truth/) [Robert Peate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-peate/) > [“I think we need to be beholden to each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-peate/i-think-we-need-to-be-beholden-to-each-other/) [Robert Peate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-peate/) > [“In the event of total freedom, the desire to dominate rules just as tyrannically as it does with centrally-planned economies. Freedom gave us capitalism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-peate/in-the-event-of-total-freedom-the-desire-to-dominate-rules-just-as/) [Robert Peate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-peate/) > [“We celebrate the beauty and reason of the individual, and resist the coercion of the state and the tyranny of the majority. We laugh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-peate/we-celebrate-the-beauty-and-reason-of-the-individual-and-resist-the/) [Robert Peate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-peate/) > [“You cannot claim to support individuality if you aren’t willing to trust other human beings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-peate/you-cannot-claim-to-support-individuality-if-you-aren-t-willing-to/) [Robert Peate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-peate/) [Explore all 25 Robert Peate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-peate/) ## More Fire department quotes > [To-night I am going to take a party to the headquarters of the fire department, where I have a cinch on the captain, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-h-davis/to-night-i-am-going-to-take-a-party-to-the-headquarters-of-the-fire/) [Richard H. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-h-davis/) > [“If your negligent neighbor falls asleep with a lit cigarette in his mouth, setting his house on fire, he’s irresponsible and guilty. But you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-s-blinder/if-your-negligent-neighbor-falls-asleep-with-a-lit-cigarette-in-his/) [Alan S. Blinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-s-blinder/) > [ What we need is a plan B ... independent of the Internet. \[It\] doesn't necessarily have to have the performance of the Internet, but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-hillis/what-we-need-is-a-plan-b-independent-of-the-internet-it-doesn-t/) [Danny Hillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-hillis/) > [I wanted to be the first woman to burn her bra, but it would have taken the fire department four days to put it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-wanted-to-be-the-first-woman-to-burn-her-bra-but-it-would-have/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [Being against the military because you are against war is like being against the Fire Department because you are against fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mcdonough/being-against-the-military-because-you-are-against-war-is-like-being/) [Jim McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mcdonough/) > [“I had to stop him from arresting an old lady who let her dog urinate against the fire hydrant that was in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-goldberg/i-had-to-stop-him-from-arresting-an-old-lady-who-let-her-dog-urinate/) [Lee Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-goldberg/) > [When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the fire department generally uses water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-tempted-to-fight-fire-with-fire-remember-that-the-fire/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You call the police when a robbery takes place. You call the fire department when there is a fire. but, you call a friend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-wilhelmy/you-call-the-police-when-a-robbery-takes-place-you-call-the-fire/) [Sydney Wilhelmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-wilhelmy/) > [If your cat's up a tree, you call the fire department. If someone's hurt, you call the fire department. If there's a mudslide or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/if-your-cat-s-up-a-tree-you-call-the-fire-department-if-someone-s/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [In the 9/11 Commission Report, one of the things they point out is that firefighters saved just about everybody below the fire. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/in-the-9-11-commission-report-one-of-the-things-they-point-out-is/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [“Our department takes 1,120 calls every day. Do you know how many of the calls the public expects perfection on? 1,120. Nobody calls the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eversole/our-department-takes-1-120-calls-every-day-do-you-know-how-many-of/) John Eversole > [“Here's how to get started with the antipolitical politics of the Benedict Option. Secede culturally from the mainstream. Turn off the television. Put the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-dreher/here-s-how-to-get-started-with-the-antipolitical-politics-of-the/) [Rod Dreher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-dreher/) > [I filmed my first little Super 8 movie by stealing my mum's Super 8 camera where I set some fires to some of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bay/i-filmed-my-first-little-super-8-movie-by-stealing-my-mum-s-super-8/) [Michael Bay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bay/) > [Making ziti for the Chicago Fire Department! I hope they're not too busy today, but this should fill their bellies I hope they like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/making-ziti-for-the-chicago-fire-department-i-hope-they-re-not-too/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [“our stops always involved food. I had to watch myself because if I tried to eat all the times she did, I would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxy-mews/our-stops-always-involved-food-i-had-to-watch-myself-because-if-i/) [Roxy Mews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxy-mews/) [Browse all 58 Fire department quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire-department/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I think the purpose of government is for a population to accomplish its mutually agreed-upon goals without every citizen having to accomplish those goals for him- or herself. Some examples: we have a police force so we don’t need to have vigilante mobs. We have a post office so we don’t need to deliver our own mail across the entire nation. We have a fire department so we don’t have to put out our own fires. In return for the services we agree on, we pay a fee. We just don’t all agree on what the services and what the fees should be. I personally think it’s sad we don’t all agree on single-payer health care. We agree on paying taxes to save a house from fire but not a body from cancer? 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