The quote can be found in Henry David Thoreau's essay entitled Civil Disobedience published in 1849. However the quote is often attributed to Thomas Jefferson, but there is no writing suggesting Jefferson actually said it.
[Edit: Indeed Jefferson did NOT coin this phrase. This motto (originally "The best government is that which governs least") was in fact that of the monthly periodical of the mid-19th century called "United States Magazine and Democratic Review," it is a most excellent read too. Archives can be found in the Cornell Library.
Title page of US Magazine and Democratc Review 1837
William Penn
NAtural Law
Samuel Adams
The Founding Fathers adopted some then-novel theories of government, which had actually been around since the Athenian city-state of Ancient Greece. Rather than being a hereditary power handed down among powerful families (divine right of kings), philosophers such as John Locke saw government as a shared agreement among peoples of a nation (social contract). Locke said as much in his Essay concerning Human Understanding (circa 1690).The phrase "consent of the governed" in the Declaration of Independence is used to support the contention that a government can fail to be responsive to those it governs, often because it equates governing with absolute rule.
Ronald Reagan
Thomas Paine
The quote "The government is best which governs least" is attributed to Henry David Thoreau, an American essayist and philosopher, known for his writings on civil disobedience and individualism. Thoreau believed in minimal interference from the government in the lives of the people.
Thomas Jefferson made that statement, except he did not leave a space after the L in Least.
"That government governs best, which governs LEAST", said Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson believed in a small government, almost a minimalist government. Of course, he envisioned a nation of farmers and shopkeepers, not a world power with an international reach.
"That government governs best, which governs LEAST", said Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson believed in a small government, almost a minimalist government. Of course, he envisioned a nation of farmers and shopkeepers, not a world power with an international reach.
"That government governs best, which governs LEAST", said Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson believed in a small government, almost a minimalist government. Of course, he envisioned a nation of farmers and shopkeepers, not a world power with an international reach.
Mark Twain said "We have the best government money can buy."
said it. Nor did Thomas Paine, another "Founding Father" who is sometimes wrongly credited with the quote.Henry David Thoreau did use the line in "Civil Disobedience" (originally titled "Resistance to Civil Government") and its appearance in that famous essay probably popularized the saying in its best known form. However, Thoreau seemed to be making it clear that he was citing an existing motto.He may have been paraphrasing the slogan coined by American journalist and editor John Louis O'Sullivan. In 1837, O'Sullivan wrote "The best government is that which governs least"http://www.quotecounterquote.com/2010/06/that-government-is-best-which-governs.htmlhttp://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/government-best-which-governs-least-quotation
They are all best friends. At least they said they were all best friends.
William Penn
jeremy Bentham
The best description of the US government can be describes as follows;The US government is a democratically elected government, subject to changes by elections or impeachments. The government of the US is said to be reflective of the wishes of the US public at large.