Breathing Quote by Woodrow Wilson
“The trouble with the theory [of limited and divided government] is that government is not a machine, but a living thing. This is where the living and breathing constitution comes from. It is modified by its environment, necessitated by its tasks, shaped to its functions by the sheer pressure of life.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Address on government, 1912
Government is a living organism, adapting to its environment and tasks, not a static machine.
In simple terms: Government evolves like a living thing.
Recognize flexibility in institutions.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy making
- constitutional reform
- public administration
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How should constitutions balance stability and change?
- What limits arise from treating government as living?
Complexity may hinder clear action.