Above all we should not forget that government is an evil, a usurpation upon the private judgement and individual conscience of mankind.

Quote by William Godwin

Topics: William Godwin Quotes

Every man has a certain sphere of discretion which he has a right to expect...

Every man has a certain sphere of discretion which he has a right to expect...

One of the prerogatives by which man is eminently distinguished from all other living beings...

One of the prerogatives by which man is eminently distinguished from all other living beings...

There can be no passion, and by consequence no love, where there is not imagination.

There can be no passion, and by consequence no love, where there is not imagination.

To him it is an ocean, unfathomable, and without a shore.

To him it is an ocean, unfathomable, and without a shore.

Perseverance is an active principle, and cannot continue to operate but under the influence of...

Perseverance is an active principle, and cannot continue to operate but under the influence of...

Justice is the sum of all moral duty.

Justice is the sum of all moral duty.

The execution of any thing considerable implies in the first place previous persevering meditation.

The execution of any thing considerable implies in the first place previous persevering meditation.

But the watchful care of the parent is endless. The youth is never free from...

But the watchful care of the parent is endless. The youth is never free from...

He has no right to his life when his duty calls him to resign it....

He has no right to his life when his duty calls him to resign it....

Let us not, in the eagerness of our haste to educate, forget all the ends...

Let us not, in the eagerness of our haste to educate, forget all the ends...

What can be more clear and sound in explanation, than the love of a parent...

What can be more clear and sound in explanation, than the love of a parent...

If a thing be really good, it can be shown to be such.

If a thing be really good, it can be shown to be such.

The great model of the affection of love in human beings is the sentiment which...

The great model of the affection of love in human beings is the sentiment which...

Government will not fail to employ education, to strengthen its hands, and perpetuate its institutions.

Government will not fail to employ education, to strengthen its hands, and perpetuate its institutions.

There is reverence that we owe to everything in human shape.

There is reverence that we owe to everything in human shape.

Everything understood by the term co-operation is in some sense an evil.

Everything understood by the term co-operation is in some sense an evil.

Man is the only creature we know, that, when the term of his natural life...

Man is the only creature we know, that, when the term of his natural life...

Revolutions are the produce of passion, not of sober and tranquil reason.

Revolutions are the produce of passion, not of sober and tranquil reason.

Learning is the ally, not the adversary of genius... he who reads in a proper...

Learning is the ally, not the adversary of genius... he who reads in a proper...

The diligent scholar is he that loves himself, and desires to have reason to applaud...

The diligent scholar is he that loves himself, and desires to have reason to applaud...