--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe that the government that…" description: "\"I believe that the government that governs best is a government that governs least, and by these standards we have set up a fabulous government in Iraq..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fe/stephen-colbert-503_believe_i-believe-that-the-government-that-gover_1910140.png" --- # I believe that the government that governs best is a… ![“I believe that the government that governs best is a government that governs least, and by these standards we have set up a fabulous government in Iraq.” quote by Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fe/stephen-colbert-503_believe_i-believe-that-the-government-that-gover_1910140.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fe/stephen-colbert-503_believe_i-believe-that-the-government-that-gover_1910140.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fe/stephen-colbert-503_believe_i-believe-that-the-government-that-gover_1910140.png) > “I believe that the government that governs best is a government that governs least, and by these standards we have set up a fabulous government in Iraq.” [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates minimal government intervention, claiming current Iraqi governance exemplifies this ideal. **In simple terms:** Less government is better, especially in Iraq. Key Takeaway Embrace limited governance. Themes politics government libertarianism Mood skeptical analytical Type political commentary When to use this quote - policy analysis - international relations - public administration Key Concepts minimalism statecraft sovereignty Questions to Reflect On - Is minimal government always effective? - How does this view address local needs? A Different Perspective Oversimplifies complex governance challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Best Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-government-445624/) [Fabulous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fabulous/) [Fabulous Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fabulous-government-2870953/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Governs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-governs-856357/) [Government Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-iraq-2727243/) [Governs Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governs-best-1333728/) [Hilarious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hilarious/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) ## Related quotes > [That government that governs least governs best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/that-government-that-governs-least-governs-best/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Soon we will be addicted to the federal government, and we will not want to support our local police force. I have been a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-orfalea/soon-we-will-be-addicted-to-the-federal-government-and-we-will-not/) [Paul Orfalea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-orfalea/) > [“The best government is that which governs least.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-o-sullivan/the-best-government-is-that-which-governs-least/) [John L. O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-o-sullivan/) > [It is certain, I think, that the best government is the one that governs the least. But there is a much-neglected corollary: the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/it-is-certain-i-think-that-the-best-government-is-the-one-that/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [This current government in Iraq has never fulfilled the commitments it made to form a unity government with the Kurds, the Sunnis and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-hagel/this-current-government-in-iraq-has-never-fulfilled-the-commitments/) [Chuck Hagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-hagel/) > [We need a unifying presence in the central government in Iraq, and so we think the stability and security of Iraq, and especially the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/we-need-a-unifying-presence-in-the-central-government-in-iraq-and-so/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [The Government of Iraq also owes a debt to the American and coalition forces who are fighting the insurgency and helping put that country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-skelton/the-government-of-iraq-also-owes-a-debt-to-the-american-and-coalition/) [Ike Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-skelton/) > [It is unfortunate that there is not a government in Iraq that has been able to unify the Shiites and the Sunnis sufficiently. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lugar/it-is-unfortunate-that-there-is-not-a-government-in-iraq-that-has/) [Richard Lugar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lugar/) > [I am very optimistic about -- about Iraq. I mean, this could be one of the great achievements of this administration. You're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-am-very-optimistic-about-about-iraq-i-mean-this-could-be-one-of-the/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The government that governs from afar absolutely requires that the truth and the facts reach its knowledge by every possible channel, so that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-rizal/the-government-that-governs-from-afar-absolutely-requires-that-the/) [Jose Rizal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-rizal/) > [Given the low level of competence among politicians, every American should become a libertarian. The government that governs least is certainly the best choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/given-the-low-level-of-competence-among-politicians-every-american/) [Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/) > [For millions of Americans who happen to be black or brown, that core bond of trust with the government that governs closest to you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-reid/for-millions-of-americans-who-happen-to-be-black-or-brown-that-core/) [Joy Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-reid/) > [The Anarchists are simply unterrified Jeffersonian Democrats. They believe that 'the best government is that which governs least,' and that which governs least is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-tucker/the-anarchists-are-simply-unterrified-jeffersonian-democrats-they/) [Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/) ## More by Stephen Colbert > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/cynicism-masquerades-as-wisdom-but-it-is-the-farthest-thing-from-it/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [We all deserve credit for this new surveillance state that we live in because we the people voted for the Patriot Act. Democrats and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/we-all-deserve-credit-for-this-new-surveillance-state-that-we-live-in/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [I've long been against illegal aliens, partly because they distract us from an even bigger threat: real aliens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/i-ve-long-been-against-illegal-aliens-partly-because-they-distract-us/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Believe in me, cause I don't believe in anything, and I wanna be someone to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/believe-in-me-cause-i-don-t-believe-in-anything-and-i-wanna-be/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It's August, which means Congress is on recess and Mitch McConnell has shimmied back into the ocean to seek a mate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/it-s-august-which-means-congress-is-on-recess-and-mitch-mcconnell-has/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Try to love others and serve others and hopefully find those who love and serve you in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/try-to-love-others-and-serve-others-and-hopefully-find-those-who-love/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Thirty seconds is the exact amount of time Americans can tolerate something they don't understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/thirty-seconds-is-the-exact-amount-of-time-americans-can-tolerate/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [I used to make up stuff in my bio all the time, that I used to be a professional ice-skater and stuff like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/i-used-to-make-up-stuff-in-my-bio-all-the-time-that-i-used-to-be-a/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [I live by syllogisms: God is love. Love is blind. Stevie Wonder is blind. Therefore, Stevie Wonder is God. I don't know what I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/i-live-by-syllogisms-god-is-love-love-is-blind-stevie-wonder-is-blind/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [“Unlike Paul Newman, who seems to think that salad dressing is the cure-all for America's ills, I'm a man of action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/unlike-paul-newman-who-seems-to-think-that-salad-dressing-is-the-cure/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Now, for my younger viewers out there, a book is something we used to have before the internet. It’s sort of a blog for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/now-for-my-younger-viewers-out-there-a-book-is-something-we-used-to/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Jesus forgives sinners, not criminals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/jesus-forgives-sinners-not-criminals/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Used books are the sluts of the literary world. Passed around from person to person, spreading their pages for anyone, getting cheaper and cheaper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/used-books-are-the-sluts-of-the-literary-world-passed-around-from/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [“Divorce is a marital welfare. It's just couples asking society to bail them out because they didn't do enough research before they got married.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/divorce-is-a-marital-welfare-it-s-just-couples-asking-society-to-bail/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) [Explore all 514 Stephen Colbert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe that the government that governs best is a government that governs least, and by these standards we have set up a fabulous government in Iraq.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Colbert" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/i-believe-that-the-government-that-governs-best-is-a-government-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/i-believe-that-the-government-that-governs-best-is-a-government-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fe/stephen-colbert-503_believe_i-believe-that-the-government-that-gover_1910140.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fe/stephen-colbert-503_believe_i-believe-that-the-government-that-gover_1910140.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fe/stephen-colbert-503_believe_i-believe-that-the-government-that-gover_1910140.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I believe that the government that governs best is a government that governs least, and by these standards…” — Stephen Colbert", "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": "Stephen Colbert", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I believe that the government that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/i-believe-that-the-government-that-governs-best-is-a-government-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/i-believe-that-the-government-that-governs-best-is-a-government-that/#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 } } ] } ```