Public officers are the servants and agents of the people, to execute the laws which the people have made.
Grover ClevelandRead
Once the coffers of the federal government are opened to the public, there will be no shutting them again.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that once government funding and resources are made available to citizens, it becomes difficult to retract those benefits.
Grover Cleveland's quote reflects a deep skepticism about government spending and the implications of making public funds accessible. It warns that once the government opens up its financial resources to the public, the expectation and demand for such resources will continue indefinitely, possibly leading to financial irresponsibility or dependency. This highlights a belief in the challenges of government intervention and the potential consequences of entitlement.
Themes
GovernmentFundingPublicCivicsResources
In practice
Example use cases
In a political debate about fiscal responsibility, this quote could serve as a warning against excessive government spending.
More from Grover Cleveland
All quotes βUnswerving loyalty to duty, constant devotion to truth, and a clear conscience will overcome every discouragement and surely lead the way to usefulness and high achievement.
Grover ClevelandRead
Though the people support the government; the government should not support the people.
Grover ClevelandRead
Your every voter, as surely as your chief magistrate, exercises a public trust.
Grover ClevelandRead
It is the responsibility of the citizens to support their government. It is not the responsibility of the government to support its citizens.
Grover ClevelandRead
The lessons of paternalism ought to be unlearned and the better lesson taught that while the people should patriotically and cheerfully support their government, its functions do not include the support of the people.
Grover ClevelandRead
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