On the recordJanuary 1, 1791
Make government what it ought to be, and it will support itself.
Said by
Thomas Paine
Source
gutenberg.orgMake government what it ought to be, and it will support itself.
From "Rights of Man," Paine expresses confidence that a well-constituted government will naturally sustain itself without artificial means.
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In fine, society performs for itself almost everything which is ascribed to government.
To possess ourselves of a clear idea of what government is, or ought to be, we must trace it to its origin.
To account for this sudden transition, it is proper to observe that there are two distinct species of popularity; the one excited by merit, and the other by resentment.