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About this quote

What does it mean?
Ford believes government should improve lives by restraint rather than constant expansion.
In plain terms
Government helps people most when it limits itself instead of growing.
What can you take from it?
Limit government size to protect individual lives and freedom.

Where it applies

  • policy making
  • governance
  • citizen life

Putting it to work

  • advocate for smaller government
  • evaluate regulations

Questions to consider

  • When should government expand?
  • Does less always mean better?

Another view

Restraint may neglect necessary public services or safety nets.

More from Gerald Ford

  1. America needed recovery, not revenge. The hate had to be drained and the healing begun.

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  2. Richard Nixon: was just offered $2 million by Schick to do a television commercial - for Gillette.

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  3. The three-martini lunch is the epitome of American efficiency. Where else can you get an earful, a bellyful and a snootful at the same time?

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