Quotes · Skopia

53 quotes

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Political literature · Philosophical literature

In such condition there is no place for industry, because the fruit thereof is uncertain... And the life of man solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.

Leviathan · 1651

★ 9.6

Democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.

Winston Churchill

1947

★ 9.4

Essay · Political literature

Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice, without constraint.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist 15 · 1787

★ 7.1

Essay · Political literature

It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary.

Federalist 51 · 1788

★ 7.0

Essay · Political literature

Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit.

Federalist 51 · 1788

★ 7.0

Political literature · Philosophical literature

The State is not "abolished", it withers away.

Friedrich Engels

Anti-Duhring · 1878

★ 7.0

The best government is that which governs least.

John L. O'Sullivan

1837

★ 6.9

Political literature · Philosophical literature

Whoever desires to found a state and give it laws, must start with assuming that all men are bad and ever ready to display their vicious nature, whenever they may find occasions for it.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Discourses on Livy · 1531

★ 6.2

Personal journal

If all men were just, there still would be some, though not so much, need of government.

Abraham Lincoln

1854

★ 5.5

Speech · Political speech

There are no necessary evils in the government. Its evils exist only in its abuses. If it would confine itself to equal protection, and, as Heaven does its rains, shower its favor alike on the high and the low, the rich and the poor, it would be an unqualified blessing.

1832

★ 5.3

Speech · Political speech

England is the mother of parliaments.

Speech in Birmingham, January 18, 1865 · 1865

★ 5.3

Speech · Political speech

The government strong enough to give you what you want is strong enough to take it all away.

Barry Goldwater

1964

★ 5.2

Now there is one outstanding important fact regarding Spaceship Earth, and that is that no instruction book came with it.

Buckminster Fuller

1969

★ 5.2

Treatise · Political literature · Philosophical literature

The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or composite, are good laws and good arms; and as there cannot be good laws where the state is not well armed, it follows that where they are well armed they have good laws.

Niccolo Machiavelli

The Prince · 1532

★ 4.7

Philosophical dialogue · Dialogue · Philosophical literature

Until philosophers are kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy, and political greatness and wisdom meet in one, and those commoner natures who pursue either to the exclusion of the other are compelled to stand aside, cities will never have rest from their evils.

Plato, Republic · 375 BC

★ 4.0

Economic literature

There is no art which one government sooner learns of another, than that of draining money from the pockets of the people.

The Wealth of Nations · 1776

★ 3.9

Dialogue · Political literature

For there is nothing that happens on earth that is more welcome to that supreme God who rules the whole universe than the institutions and congregations of men united by a sense of right, which are called states.

On the Commonwealth · 51 BC

★ 3.8

Political literature · Philosophical literature

During the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called war; and such a war as is of every man against every man.

Leviathan · 1651

★ 3.8

Pamphlet · Political literature

Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.

Common Sense · 1776

★ 3.8

Speech · Political speech

Sometimes it is said that man can not be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others? Or have we found angels in the forms of kings to govern him? Let history answer this question.

Thomas Jefferson

First Inaugural Address of Thomas Jefferson · 1801

★ 3.8

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