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

Thomas Paine

Common Sense

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More information about this quote

Topic

Downsides of government Government Politics

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

Common Sense

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Occupation

Philosopher Activist Writer

From

United Kingdom Europe

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas [published anonymously]. Common Sense. Philadelphia: R. Bell, sect. 1.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "Common Sense." Rights of Man, Common Sense, and Other Political Writings, edited by Mark Philp. Oxford University Press, 2009, sect. 1.

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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote from the 1770s

That these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown; and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.

Richard Henry Lee

Lee Resolution

More information about this quote
Topic
American Revolution

Author

Richard Henry Lee
Source
Lee Resolution
Language
English
Time
1776 1770s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Lee, Richard Henry. Lee Resolution. 2 July 1776.

Another quote about Politics

To govern is to choose.

Pierre-Marc-Gaston de Lévis

More information about this quote
Topic
Political leadership Politics

Author

Pierre-Marc-Gaston de Lévis
Language
French
Time
1808 1800s 19th century
Authentication Score 1
Citation

Levis, Pierre Marc Gaston. "Maximes de Politique." Maximes et reflexions sur differents sujets. Paris, 1808, no. 19.

Another quote from 1776

Every individual necessarily labours to render the annual revenue of the society as great as he can. He generally, indeed, neither intends to promote the public interest, nor knows how much he is promoting it... he intends only his own security... and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention.

Adam Smith

The Wealth of Nations

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More information about this quote
Topic
Invisible hand Self-interest Unintended consequences

Author

Adam Smith
Source
The Wealth of Nations
Genre
Economic literature
Language
English
Time
1776 1770s 18th century
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Smith, Adam. The Wealth of Nations. Vol. 2, London: W. Strahan and T. Cadell 1776, bk. 4, ch. 2.

Current Citation

Smith, Adam. The Wealth of Nations, edited by Edwin Cannan. The Modern Library, 2000, bk. 4, ch. 2.