--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A nation under a well regulated…" description: "\"A nation under a well regulated government, should permit none to remain uninstructed. It is monarchical and aristocratical government only that requir..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eeb/thomas-paine-267_education_a-nation-under-a-well-regulated-governme_2846060.png" --- # A nation under a well regulated government, should permit… ![“A nation under a well regulated government, should permit none to remain uninstructed. It is monarchical and aristocratical government only that requires ignorance for its support.” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eeb/thomas-paine-267_education_a-nation-under-a-well-regulated-governme_2846060.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eeb/thomas-paine-267_education_a-nation-under-a-well-regulated-governme_2846060.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eeb/thomas-paine-267_education_a-nation-under-a-well-regulated-governme_2846060.png) > “A nation under a well regulated government, should permit none to remain uninstructed. It is monarchical and aristocratical government only that requires ignorance for its support.” [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A well‑regulated nation must educate all; ignorance fuels authoritarian rule. **In simple terms:** Education prevents tyranny and promotes informed citizens. Key Takeaway Support universal education to safeguard democracy. Themes politics education democracy Mood concerned optimistic Type political educational When to use this quote - public schools - adult literacy programs - policy reform Key Concepts authoritarianism civic duty knowledge gaps Questions to Reflect On - How can societies ensure equal access to education? - What barriers hinder widespread instruction? A Different Perspective May underestimate challenges of implementing universal education. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aristocratical Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocratical-government-3759514/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Requires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-requires-1940137/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Nation Regulated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation-regulated-3091532/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Permit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/permit/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Regulated Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regulated-government-1487631/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Uninstructed Monarchical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uninstructed-monarchical-3759513/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [“But this proportion must in every nation be regulated by two different circumstances: first, by the skill, dexterity, and judgment with which its labour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/but-this-proportion-must-in-every-nation-be-regulated-by-two/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Bitcoin is not “unregulated”. It is regulated by algorithm instead of being regulated by government bureaucracies. Un-corrupted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andreas-antonopoulos/bitcoin-is-not-unregulated-it-is-regulated-by-algorithm-instead-of/) [Andreas Antonopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andreas-antonopoulos/) > [Government requires bringing people together and genuinely hearing their issues. It requires the establishment and strengthening of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/government-requires-bringing-people-together-and-genuinely-hearing/) [John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/) > [Democratic government requires the consent of the governed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcdonnell/democratic-government-requires-the-consent-of-the-governed/) [John McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcdonnell/) > [To form a new Government, requires infinite care, and unbounded attention; for if the foundation is badly laid the superstructure must be bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/to-form-a-new-government-requires-infinite-care-and-unbounded/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [A government which requires of the people the contribution of the bulk of their substance and rewards cannot be classed as a free government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/a-government-which-requires-of-the-people-the-contribution-of-the/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [No more distressing moment can ever face a British government than that which requires it to come to a hard, fast and specific decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/no-more-distressing-moment-can-ever-face-a-british-government-than/) [Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/) > [There is no part of the administration of government that requires extensive information and a thorough knowledge of the principles of political economy, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/there-is-no-part-of-the-administration-of-government-that-requires/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [The Republican form of government is the highest form of government: but because of this it requires the highest type of human nature, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/the-republican-form-of-government-is-the-highest-form-of-government/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [A republican form of government requires four standards: It demands a highly educated population manifesting critical thinking that participates in the affairs of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frosty-wooldridge/a-republican-form-of-government-requires-four-standards-it-demands-a/) [Frosty Wooldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frosty-wooldridge/) > [People in general know not what wickedness there is in this pretended word of God. Brought up in habits of superstition, they take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/people-in-general-know-not-what-wickedness-there-is-in-this-pretended/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [If men will permit themselves to think, as rational beings ought to think, nothing can appear more ridiculous and absurd, exclusive of all moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/if-men-will-permit-themselves-to-think-as-rational-beings-ought-to/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [We still find the greedy hand of government thrusting itself into every corner and crevice of industry and grasping at the spoil of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/we-still-find-the-greedy-hand-of-government-thrusting-itself-into/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What more does man want to know than that the hand or power that made these things is divine, is omnipotent? Let him believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-more-does-man-want-to-know-than-that-the-hand-or-power-that-made/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [I would have let you shoot me without further ado! But it is not possible to hang the German Reichsmarschall! I cannot permit this.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-goring/i-would-have-let-you-shoot-me-without-further-ado-but-it-is-not/) [Hermann Goring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-goring/) ## More by Thomas Paine > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“The laws of every country must be analogous to some common principle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-laws-of-every-country-must-be-analogous-to-some-common-principle/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The book called the Bible has been voted by men, and decreed by human laws to be the word of God; and the disbelief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-book-called-the-bible-has-been-voted-by-men-and-decreed-by-human/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/one-would-think-that-a-system-loaded-with-such-gross-and-vulgar/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Commerce diminishes the spirit, both of patriotism and military defence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/commerce-diminishes-the-spirit-both-of-patriotism-and-military-defence/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What is it the Bible teaches us? - raping, cruelty, and murder. What is it the New Testament teaches us? - to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-is-it-the-bible-teaches-us-raping-cruelty-and-murder-what-is-it/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/those-who-expect-to-reap-the-blessings-of-freedom-must-like-men/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“It has been the practice of all Christian commentators on the Bible, and of all Christian priests and preachers, to impose the Bible on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-has-been-the-practice-of-all-christian-commentators-on-the-bible/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [But there are times when men have serious thoughts, and it is at such times, when they begin to think, that they begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/but-there-are-times-when-men-have-serious-thoughts-and-it-is-at-such/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Wisdom is not the purchase of a day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/wisdom-is-not-the-purchase-of-a-day/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Our citizenship in the United States is our national character. Our citizenship in any particular state is only our local distinction. By the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/our-citizenship-in-the-united-states-is-our-national-character-our/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/suspicion-is-the-companion-of-mean-souls-and-the-bane-of-all-good/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“To pass from the extremes of danger to safety-from the tumult of war to the tranquility of peace, though sweet in contemplation, requires a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-pass-from-the-extremes-of-danger-to-safety-from-the-tumult-of-war/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What more does man want to know than that the hand or power that made these things is divine, is omnipotent? Let him believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-more-does-man-want-to-know-than-that-the-hand-or-power-that-made/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) [Explore all 772 Thomas Paine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## More Education quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [“In school you are taught to obey and not to think straight for your own good. Otherwise the world would be full of millionaires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/in-school-you-are-taught-to-obey-and-not-to-think-straight-for-your/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“If one has not a head of steel it will burst; if he has not within it a brain of liquid quicksilver, he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioannes-amos-commenius/if-one-has-not-a-head-of-steel-it-will-burst-if-he-has-not-within-it/) [Ioannes Amos Commenius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ioannes-amos-commenius/) > [“let us not teach / what we have learned badly / and not profited by”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-hilda-doolittle/let-us-not-teach-what-we-have-learned-badly-and-not-profited-by/) [H.D. (Hilda Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-d-hilda-doolittle/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [According to Plato, we don't learn anything. Our soul has lived so many lives that we know everything. Teachers and education can only remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/according-to-plato-we-don-t-learn-anything-our-soul-has-lived-so-many/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I only began to enjoy studying after I got through the educational system and became a so-called member of society. If something interested me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-only-began-to-enjoy-studying-after-i-got-through-the-educational/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/) [Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/) > [English teachers tend to put more thought in the books than the author did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/english-teachers-tend-to-put-more-thought-in-the-books-than-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) [Browse all 37,666 Education quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A nation under a well regulated government, should permit none to remain uninstructed. It is monarchical and aristocratical government only that requires ignorance for its support.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Paine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/a-nation-under-a-well-regulated-government-should-permit-none-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Education" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/a-nation-under-a-well-regulated-government-should-permit-none-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eeb/thomas-paine-267_education_a-nation-under-a-well-regulated-governme_2846060.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eeb/thomas-paine-267_education_a-nation-under-a-well-regulated-governme_2846060.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eeb/thomas-paine-267_education_a-nation-under-a-well-regulated-governme_2846060.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A nation under a well regulated government, should permit none to remain uninstructed. It is monarchical and…” — Thomas Paine", "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": "Thomas Paine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A nation under a well regulated...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/a-nation-under-a-well-regulated-government-should-permit-none-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/a-nation-under-a-well-regulated-government-should-permit-none-to/#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 } } ] } ```