Ignorance is an evil weed, which dictators may cultivate among their dupes, but which no democracy can afford among its citizens.
William BeveridgeRead
The object of government in peace and in war is not the glory of rulers or of races, but the happiness of common man.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Government's true goal should be the happiness of ordinary people, not the fame of leaders or nations.
This quote emphasizes that the fundamental purpose of government, whether in peacetime or wartime, should prioritize the well-being and happiness of the general population rather than the ambitions or glorification of those in power. It suggests that true leadership is measured by how well it serves the needs and happiness of its citizens, reflecting a government that is accountable to the people it governs.
Themes
GovernmentHappinessCommon ManLeadershipPeaceWar
In practice
Example use cases
During a political rally to emphasize the importance of serving the people's needs over political ambitions.
More from William Beveridge
All quotes βSimilar quotes
The danger to the country, to Europe, to her vast Empire, which is involved in having all these great interests entrusted to the shaking hand of an old, wild, and incomprehensible man of 82, is very great!
Queen VictoriaRead
Although our interests as citizens vary, each one is an artery to the heart that pumps life through the body politic, and each is important to the health of democracy.
Bill MoyersRead
I found this national debt doubled, wrapped in a big bow waiting for me as I stepped into the Oval Office.
Barack ObamaRead
Governments don't control people like they used to.
Noam ChomskyRead
Collective European Union action could mean no hiding places for evaders, no safe haven for tax avoiders, and no treasure islands for money launderers.
Gordon BrownRead
What stuns me most about contemporary politics is not even that the system has been so badly corrupted by money. It is that so few people get the connection between their lives and what the bozos do in Washington and our state capitols.
Molly IvinsRead