A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.
Attribution disputed; shown as originally published.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Goldwater warns that expansive government power leads to excessive control over citizens.
- In plain terms
- Big government gives and takes everything.
- What can you take from it?
- Large government threatens personal freedom.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How big is too big?
- What limits power?
Another view
It assumes government acts against citizens willfully.
More from Barry Goldwater
You don't have to be straight to be in the military; you just have to be able to shoot straight.
Permalink to quote #39 In your heart you know he's right.
Permalink to quote #41 When I'm not a politician, I'll be dead.
Permalink to quote #38
Related quotes
Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.
George WashingtonGeorge Washington quote #1 During the last 100 years, the House of Lords has never contributed one iota to popular liberties or popular freedom, or done anything to advance the common we…
Joseph ChamberlainJoseph Chamberlain quote #1 You don't get everything you want. A dictatorship would be a lot easier.
George W. BushGeorge W. Bush quote #2