--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No government has ever been beneficent…" description: "\"No government has ever been beneficent when the attitude of government was that it was taking care of the people. The only freedom consists in the peop..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aed/woodrow-wilson-534_attitude_no-government-has-ever-been-beneficent-w_1032902.png" --- # No government has ever been beneficent when the attitude… ![“No government has ever been beneficent when the attitude of government was that it was taking care of the people. The only freedom consists in the people taking care of the government.” quote by Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aed/woodrow-wilson-534_attitude_no-government-has-ever-been-beneficent-w_1032902.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aed/woodrow-wilson-534_attitude_no-government-has-ever-been-beneficent-w_1032902.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aed/woodrow-wilson-534_attitude_no-government-has-ever-been-beneficent-w_1032902.png) > “No government has ever been beneficent when the attitude of government was that it was taking care of the people. The only freedom consists in the people taking care of the government.” [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argument that governments rarely act benevolently; true freedom lies in citizens overseeing government actions. **In simple terms:** Governments aren’t inherently caring; people must watch them. Key Takeaway Engage civically to hold leaders accountable. Themes government freedom citizen responsibility Mood cautious determined Type political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - public forums - community organizing - policy review Key Concepts democratic oversight political theory social contract Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms can improve government transparency? - How can citizens balance vigilance with daily life? A Different Perspective Overreliance on citizen oversight can strain resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [Freedom exists only where the people take care of the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/freedom-exists-only-where-the-people-take-care-of-the-government/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [I do not want to live under a philanthropy. I do not want to be taken care of by the government… We do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/i-do-not-want-to-live-under-a-philanthropy-i-do-not-want-to-be-taken/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [“Freedom exists only where people take care of the government.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/freedom-exists-only-where-people-take-care-of-the-government/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [Republicans should save the clip of Jonathan Gruber and run it over and over again in the run-up to the 2016 election. This attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-thomas/republicans-should-save-the-clip-of-jonathan-gruber-and-run-it-over/) [Cal Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-thomas/) > [Just as the left has to be more willing to question 'Government knows best,' the right has to rethink its laissez-faire attitude toward government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/just-as-the-left-has-to-be-more-willing-to-question-government-knows/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [Since when do we let the government decide what is or isn't good for us? What the hell does Congress know about nutrition, anyway?...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-badnarik/since-when-do-we-let-the-government-decide-what-is-or-isn-t-good-for/) [Michael Badnarik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-badnarik/) > [We need to ensure that veterans are in charge of their health care and not the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-schlapp/we-need-to-ensure-that-veterans-are-in-charge-of-their-health-care/) [Mercedes Schlapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-schlapp/) > [We're going to establish a procedure where people can leave the line, go outside, take care of themselves and the government's gonna pay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-re-going-to-establish-a-procedure-where-people-can-leave-the-line/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [If people in America would get their finances together and start taking care of each other, we could put the government out of business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/if-people-in-america-would-get-their-finances-together-and-start/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [Our seniors deserve dignity, high-quality care, and a government that works for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-beshear/our-seniors-deserve-dignity-high-quality-care-and-a-government-that/) [Andy Beshear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-beshear/) > [I had a lot of friends in high school who said, 'Louie, I don't care what the government does as long as they leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-gohmert/i-had-a-lot-of-friends-in-high-school-who-said-louie-i-don-t-care/) [Louie Gohmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-gohmert/) > [If you like the post office and the Department of Motor Vehicles and you think they're run well, just wait till you see Medicare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-laffer/if-you-like-the-post-office-and-the-department-of-motor-vehicles-and/) [Arthur Laffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-laffer/) > [Nobody is starving on the streets. We've always taken care of them. We take care of our own; we always have. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/nobody-is-starving-on-the-streets-we-ve-always-taken-care-of-them-we/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Replacing your family's current health care with government-run health care is not the answer. In fact, it'll make health care much more expensive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/replacing-your-family-s-current-health-care-with-government-run/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [People are always saying,'They'll take care of it. The government'll--Don't worry, they'll--' 'They' who? It starts with us. It's us. Or else it'll never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/people-are-always-saying-they-ll-take-care-of-it-the-government-ll/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) ## More by Woodrow Wilson > [If I am to speak ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if fifteen minutes, three days; if half an hour, two days;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/if-i-am-to-speak-ten-minutes-i-need-a-week-for-preparation-if-fifteen/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [There is here a great melting pot in which we must compound a precious metal. That metal is the metal of nationality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/there-is-here-a-great-melting-pot-in-which-we-must-compound-a/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [One cannot pay the price of self-respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/one-cannot-pay-the-price-of-self-respect/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [I would rather lose in a cause that will some day win, than win in a cause that will some day lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/i-would-rather-lose-in-a-cause-that-will-some-day-win-than-win-in-a/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [I have received delegations of working men who, apparently speaking with the utmost sincerity, have declared that they would regard it as a genuine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/i-have-received-delegations-of-working-men-who-apparently-speaking/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [Absolute identity with one's cause is the first and great condition of successful leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/absolute-identity-with-one-s-cause-is-the-first-and-great-condition/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [America cannot be an ostrich with its head in the sand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/america-cannot-be-an-ostrich-with-its-head-in-the-sand/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [...We are intensely proud of their noble record and are glad to have had the whole world see how irresistible they are in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/we-are-intensely-proud-of-their-noble-record-and-are-glad-to-have-had/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [ The facts of the case will always have the better of \[an\] argument. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-facts-of-the-case-will-always-have-the-better-of-an-argument/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [The greatest embarrassment of my political career has been that active duties seem to deprive me of time for careful investigation. I seem almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-greatest-embarrassment-of-my-political-career-has-been-that/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [Some Americans need hyphens in their names because only part of them has come over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/some-americans-need-hyphens-in-their-names-because-only-part-of-them/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [The history of liberty is the history of limitations on the power of government, not the increase of it. When we resist, therefore, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-history-of-liberty-is-the-history-of-limitations-on-the-power-of/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [When I think of the flag… I see alternate strips of parchment upon which are written the rights of liberty and justice, and stripes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/when-i-think-of-the-flag-i-see-alternate-strips-of-parchment-upon/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [If I am to speak ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if an hour, I am ready now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/if-i-am-to-speak-ten-minutes-i-need-a-week-for-preparation-if-an-hour/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [Energy in a nation is like sap in a tree; it rises from bottom up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/energy-in-a-nation-is-like-sap-in-a-tree-it-rises-from-bottom-up/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) [Explore all 492 Woodrow Wilson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) Sheye Hassan > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No government has ever been beneficent when the attitude of government was that it was taking care of the people. 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