--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When those who are governed do too…" description: "\"When those who are governed do too little, those who govern can - and often will - do too much.\" — Ronald Reagan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb5/ronald-reagan-119_govern_when-those-who-are-governed-do-too-littl_2369211.jpg" --- # When those who are governed do too little, those who… ![“When those who are governed do too little, those who govern can - and often will - do too much.” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb5/ronald-reagan-119_govern_when-those-who-are-governed-do-too-littl_2369211.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb5/ronald-reagan-119_govern_when-those-who-are-governed-do-too-littl_2369211.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb5/ronald-reagan-119_govern_when-those-who-are-governed-do-too-littl_2369211.jpg) > “When those who are governed do too little, those who govern can - and often will - do too much.” [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When citizens are passive, leaders tend to overreach; civic engagement curtails governmental excess. **In simple terms:** People’s inactivity lets government grow too big. Key Takeaway Stay engaged and hold leaders accountable. Themes civic duty government power citizen responsibility Mood motivational serious Type political inspirational When to use this quote - voting - community meetings - public forums - social media activism Key Concepts democracy political participation accountability Questions to Reflect On - What actions can you take to stay politically active? - How does civic participation limit government overreach? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on government can stifle personal initiative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [There are very few so foolish that they had not rather govern themselves than be governed by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/there-are-very-few-so-foolish-that-they-had-not-rather-govern/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [It takes very little to govern good people. Very little. And bad people cant be governed at all. Or if they could I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/it-takes-very-little-to-govern-good-people-very-little-and-bad-people/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [A general presumption that Icings will govern well, is not a sufficient security to the People... those who subjected themselves to the will of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-general-presumption-that-icings-will-govern-well-is-not-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is far better to be free to govern or misgovern yourself than to be governed by anybody else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/it-is-far-better-to-be-free-to-govern-or-misgovern-yourself-than-to/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [How can a thing possibly govern others when it cannot be governed itself?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/how-can-a-thing-possibly-govern-others-when-it-cannot-be-governed/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [I must govern the clock, not be governed by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/golda-meir/i-must-govern-the-clock-not-be-governed-by-it/) [Golda Meir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/golda-meir/) > [Men can never escape being governed. Either they must govern themselves or they must submit to being governed by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/men-can-never-escape-being-governed-either-they-must-govern/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [It is for men to choose whether they will govern themselves or be governed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/it-is-for-men-to-choose-whether-they-will-govern-themselves-or-be/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“It is far better to be free to govern or misgovern yourself than to be governed by anybody else. — Kwame Nkrumah”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/it-is-far-better-to-be-free-to-govern-or-misgovern-yourself-than-to-2/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [The only legitimate right to govern is an express grant of power from the governed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-harrison/the-only-legitimate-right-to-govern-is-an-express-grant-of-power-from/) [William Henry Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-harrison/) > [For there are very few so foolish who would not rather govern themselves than be governed by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/for-there-are-very-few-so-foolish-who-would-not-rather-govern/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [If no one among us is capable of governing himself, then who among us has the capcity to govern someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/if-no-one-among-us-is-capable-of-governing-himself-then-who-among-us/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The prime communities of the Southwest are survival communities. Their sustenance is governed by rainfall and wind direction. You can study little enclaves of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-predock/the-prime-communities-of-the-southwest-are-survival-communities-their/) [Antoine Predock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-predock/) > [Where there's liberty, art succeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/where-there-s-liberty-art-succeeds/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More by Ronald Reagan > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/yes-across-europe-this-wall-will-fall-for-it-cannot-withstand-faith/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Simple fairness dictates that government must not raise taxes on families struggling to pay their bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/simple-fairness-dictates-that-government-must-not-raise-taxes-on/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America - our country is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-time-has-come-to-turn-to-god-and-reassert-our-trust-in-him-for/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Professional politicians like to talk about the value of experience in government. Nuts! The only experience you gain in politics is how to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/professional-politicians-like-to-talk-about-the-value-of-experience/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Where there's liberty, art succeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/where-there-s-liberty-art-succeeds/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Since I came to the White House, I got two hearing aids, a colon operation, skin cancer, a prostate operation, and I was shot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/since-i-came-to-the-white-house-i-got-two-hearing-aids-a-colon/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [A moment I've been dreading. George brought his ne're-do-well son around this morning and asked me to find the kid a job. Not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/a-moment-i-ve-been-dreading-george-brought-his-ne-re-do-well-son/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [On Father's Day, we pay tribute to all in our society who have taken on the responsibilitie s and joys of fatherhood. Whether our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/on-father-s-day-we-pay-tribute-to-all-in-our-society-who-have-taken/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It's not that liberals aren't smart, it's just that so much of what they know isn't so](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/it-s-not-that-liberals-aren-t-smart-it-s-just-that-so-much-of-what/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/love-your-country-not-for-her-power-or-wealth-but-for-her/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Explore all 1,244 Ronald Reagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More Govern quotes > [The only legitimate right to govern is an express grant of power from the governed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-harrison/the-only-legitimate-right-to-govern-is-an-express-grant-of-power-from/) [William Henry Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-harrison/) > [All power corrupts but some must govern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/all-power-corrupts-but-some-must-govern/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [You should govern not by partisanship, but by leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-faulconer/you-should-govern-not-by-partisanship-but-by-leadership/) [Kevin Faulconer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-faulconer/) > [“An anarchist government somehow creates an impression in the hearts of citizens that no one cares.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-anarchist-government-somehow-creates-an-impression-in-the-hearts/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [They that govern the most make the least noise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/they-that-govern-the-most-make-the-least-noise/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [It is the stars, The stars above us, govern our conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/it-is-the-stars-the-stars-above-us-govern-our-conditions/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible. Do not ever let anyone claim to be a true American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-impossible-to-rightly-govern-the-world-without-god-and-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [If Rob Ford decided he wanted to run for the Liberal Party in 2015, we'd say, 'No, sorry, the way you approach things, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-trudeau/if-rob-ford-decided-he-wanted-to-run-for-the-liberal-party-in-2015-we/) [Justin Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-trudeau/) > [In the White House, you can be on the pitcher's mound or you can be in the catcher's position. Put points on the board.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/in-the-white-house-you-can-be-on-the-pitcher-s-mound-or-you-can-be-in/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [Those that govern most make least noise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-selden/those-that-govern-most-make-least-noise/) [John Selden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-selden/) > [The simple truth is that unless you can control immigration you cannot govern because you cannot set a budget or plan public services.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/the-simple-truth-is-that-unless-you-can-control-immigration-you/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [Every class is unfit to govern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/every-class-is-unfit-to-govern/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [In Washington and Moscow they are saying, 'Man has finally come of age; he doesn't need paternalistic help.' Which is another way of saying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/in-washington-and-moscow-they-are-saying-man-has-finally-come-of-age/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [The only people who should suffer financial hardship when elected leaders can't govern are the elected leaders themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-phillips/the-only-people-who-should-suffer-financial-hardship-when-elected/) [Dean Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-phillips/) > [To govern mankind, one must not overrate them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-govern-mankind-one-must-not-overrate-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 331 Govern quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When those who are governed do too little, those who govern can - and often will - do too much.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ronald Reagan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/when-those-who-are-governed-do-too-little-those-who-govern-can-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Govern" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/when-those-who-are-governed-do-too-little-those-who-govern-can-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb5/ronald-reagan-119_govern_when-those-who-are-governed-do-too-littl_2369211.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb5/ronald-reagan-119_govern_when-those-who-are-governed-do-too-littl_2369211.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb5/ronald-reagan-119_govern_when-those-who-are-governed-do-too-littl_2369211.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When those who are governed do too little, those who govern can - and often will - do too much.” — Ronald Reagan", "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": "Ronald Reagan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When those who are governed do...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/when-those-who-are-governed-do-too-little-those-who-govern-can-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/when-those-who-are-governed-do-too-little-those-who-govern-can-and/#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 } } ] } ```