--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The representative system of government…" description: "\"The representative system of government is calculated to produce the wisest laws, by collecting wisdom where it can be found.\" — Thomas Paine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/thomas-paine-267_collecting_the-representative-system-of-government_2244438.png" --- # The representative system of government is calculated to… ![“The representative system of government is calculated to produce the wisest laws, by collecting wisdom where it can be found.” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/thomas-paine-267_collecting_the-representative-system-of-government_2244438.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/thomas-paine-267_collecting_the-representative-system-of-government_2244438.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/thomas-paine-267_collecting_the-representative-system-of-government_2244438.png) > “The representative system of government is calculated to produce the wisest laws, by collecting wisdom where it can be found.” [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. The design of representative government aims to gather diverse expertise to craft the best laws. **In simple terms:** Representatives collect wisdom to make good laws. Key Takeaway Seek diverse input when creating policies. Themes democracy governance wisdom lawmaking Mood thoughtful analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - legislative drafting - public policy formation - community decision making - advisory panels Key Concepts collective intelligence deliberative democracy expertise Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure representatives reflect true expertise? - What mechanisms prevent dominance of narrow interests? A Different Perspective Assumes all representatives act rationally and are truly knowledgeable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Representative government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representative-government/) [Representatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representatives/) [Systems of government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/systems-of-government/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [ \[N\]either the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/n-either-the-wisest-constitution-nor-the-wisest-laws-will-secure-the/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/neither-the-wisest-constitution-nor-the-wisest-laws-will-secure-the/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [Man is not the enemy of man, but through the medium of a false system of Government. Instead, therefore, of exclaiming against the ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/man-is-not-the-enemy-of-man-but-through-the-medium-of-a-false-system-2/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Each government accuses the other of perfidy, intrigue and ambition, as a means of heating the imagination of their respective nations, and incensing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/each-government-accuses-the-other-of-perfidy-intrigue-and-ambition-as/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Representative government has broken down. Our politicians represent not the people who vote for them but the commercial interests who finance their election campaigns.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/representative-government-has-broken-down-our-politicians-represent/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [It's harder to end a war than begin one. Indeed, everything that American troops have done in Iraq -- all the fighting and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-harder-to-end-a-war-than-begin-one-indeed-everything-that/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“Representative government is artifice, a political myth, designed to conceal from the masses the dominance of a self-selected, self-perpetuating, and self-serving traditional ruling class.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-prezzolini/representative-government-is-artifice-a-political-myth-designed-to/) Giuseppe Prezzolini > [I am a firm believer in democratic representative government as the best form for those who have the tolerance and self-restraint that is required…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-am-a-firm-believer-in-democratic-representative-government-as-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [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/) > [“As long as you have broad representation from many parts of society, representative government works extremely well. And it works even better when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-carson/as-long-as-you-have-broad-representation-from-many-parts-of-society/) [Ben Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-carson/) > [Tyranny is the political corollary of socialism, as representative government is the political corollary of the market economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/tyranny-is-the-political-corollary-of-socialism-as-representative/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Unless bureaucracy is constantly resisted, it breaks down representative government and overwhelms democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/unless-bureaucracy-is-constantly-resisted-it-breaks-down/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [We're leaving behind a sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq with a representative government that was elected by its people. We're building a new partnership…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-re-leaving-behind-a-sovereign-stable-and-self-reliant-iraq-with-a/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Without freedom of the press, there can be no representative government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/without-freedom-of-the-press-there-can-be-no-representative-government/) [Charles Maurice de Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/) > [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 Collecting quotes > [I've always been interested in photographs, collecting them not systematically but randomly. They get lost, then turn up again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-g-sebald/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-photographs-collecting-them-not/) [W. G. Sebald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-g-sebald/) > [Taking photos is a form of collecting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/taking-photos-is-a-form-of-collecting/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [If you're feeling fancy free, come wander through the world with me, and any place we chance to be, will be a rendezvous. Two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/if-you-re-feeling-fancy-free-come-wander-through-the-world-with-me/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [I found so-called great art too pompous, too stiff. What at this time was called minor art was freer, more imaginative, more open to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lipchitz/i-found-so-called-great-art-too-pompous-too-stiff-what-at-this-time/) [Jacques Lipchitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lipchitz/) > [My real first job was delivering newspapers with I was 15. I would ride my bike around and chuck papers at people's houses. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/my-real-first-job-was-delivering-newspapers-with-i-was-15-i-would/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [I didn't really grow up a comic book fanatic. I was a big baseball player, and my passion in life, in third grade, was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-ritchson/i-didn-t-really-grow-up-a-comic-book-fanatic-i-was-a-big-baseball/) [Alan Ritchson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-ritchson/) > [I don't know who had the training of you," he continued doggedly, "but your morals are shocking. You spent a night in my bed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-chase/i-don-t-know-who-had-the-training-of-you-he-continued-doggedly-but/) [Loretta Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-chase/) > [...You can go your whole life collecting days, and none will outweigh the one you wish you had back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/you-can-go-your-whole-life-collecting-days-and-none-will-outweigh-the/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [Instead of collecting things and staying in one space, I want to collect experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kesh/instead-of-collecting-things-and-staying-in-one-space-i-want-to/) [Kesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kesh/) > [I started collecting couture when I was about 10 or 11 years old, and the very first piece I bought was a Balenciaga suit from 1962.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamish-bowles/i-started-collecting-couture-when-i-was-about-10-or-11-years-old-and/) [Hamish Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamish-bowles/) > [I imagine the wave of water colliding with the rock and spilling over the tile floor, collecting around my shoes. Doing a little at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-imagine-the-wave-of-water-colliding-with-the-rock-and-spilling-over/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I needed more knowledge in rigging and knotting. I started collecting books on knots and really learning more and more. That's how it started.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/i-needed-more-knowledge-in-rigging-and-knotting-i-started-collecting/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [Physics is the only real science. The rest are just stamp collecting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/physics-is-the-only-real-science-the-rest-are-just-stamp-collecting/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [Some prescient American collectors, including Vicki and Kent Logan and Mera and Donald Rubell, began collecting Chinese art before 2000 with a genuine passion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-glimcher/some-prescient-american-collectors-including-vicki-and-kent-logan-and/) [Arne Glimcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-glimcher/) > [If I collected all the diamonds in the world, I'd have no 'income' but I'd have a lot of 'assets'. Would my company be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/if-i-collected-all-the-diamonds-in-the-world-i-d-have-no-income-but-i/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) Browse all 493 Collecting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The representative system of government is calculated to produce the wisest laws, by collecting wisdom where it can be found.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Paine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-representative-system-of-government-is-calculated-to-produce-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Collecting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-representative-system-of-government-is-calculated-to-produce-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/thomas-paine-267_collecting_the-representative-system-of-government_2244438.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/thomas-paine-267_collecting_the-representative-system-of-government_2244438.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/thomas-paine-267_collecting_the-representative-system-of-government_2244438.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The representative system of government is calculated to produce the wisest laws, by collecting wisdom where…” — 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": "The representative system of government is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-representative-system-of-government-is-calculated-to-produce-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-representative-system-of-government-is-calculated-to-produce-the/#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 } } ] } ```