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About this quote

What does it mean?
Governments that think for people make them lazy and weak.
In plain terms
Over protection stops people from thinking.
What can you take from it?
Avoid relying on others to think for you.

Where it applies

  • leadership
  • citizenship

Putting it to work

  • practice critical thought
  • question authority

Questions to consider

  • Who thinks for you?
  • When is guidance helpful?

Another view

Some level of guidance is necessary for safety and order.

More from William Godwin

  1. The illustrious archbishop of Cambray was of more worth than his chambermaid, and there are few of us that would hesitate to pronounce, if his palace were in f…

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  2. The proper method for hastening the decay of error, is not, by brute force, or by regulation which is one of the classes of force, to endeavour to reduce men t…

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  3. If there be such a thing as truth, it must infallibly be struck out by the collision of mind with mind.

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