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

Revolution is engendered by an indignation with tyranny, yet is itself pregnant with tyranny.

Revolution is engendered by an indignation with tyranny, yet is itself pregnant with tyranny.

We cannot perform our tasks to the best of our power, unless we think well...

We cannot perform our tasks to the best of our power, unless we think well...

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.

Make men wise, and by that very operation you make them free. Civil liberty follows...

Make men wise, and by that very operation you make them free. Civil liberty follows...

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...

If he who employs coercion against me could mould me to his purposes by argument,...

If he who employs coercion against me could mould me to his purposes by argument,...

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...

The real or supposed rights of man are of two kinds, active and passive; the...

The real or supposed rights of man are of two kinds, active and passive; the...

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.

God himself has no right to be a tyrant.

God himself has no right to be a tyrant.

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

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

There must be room for the imagination to exercise its powers; we must conceive and...

There must be room for the imagination to exercise its powers; we must conceive and...

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...

As the true object of education is not to render the pupil the mere copy...

As the true object of education is not to render the pupil the mere copy...

What indeed is life, unless so far as it is enjoyed? It does not merit...

What indeed is life, unless so far as it is enjoyed? It does not merit...

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...

The lessons of their early youth regulated the conduct of their riper years.

The lessons of their early youth regulated the conduct of their riper years.

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.

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.