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 best defence [for a democracy, for the public good] is aggressiveness, the aggressiveness of the involved citizen. We need to reassert that slow, time-consuming, inefficient, boring process that requires our involvement; it is called 'being a citizen.' The public good is not something that you can see. It is not static. It is a process. It is the process by which democratic civilizations build themselves.
John Ralston SaulRead
A constitution, as important as it is, will mean nothing unless the people are yearning for liberty and freedom.
Ruth Bader GinsburgRead
So much of the deep lingering sadness over President Kennedy's assassination is about the unfinished promise: unspoken speeches, unfulfilled hopes, the wondering about what might have been.
Marian Wright EdelmanRead
In America the President reigns for four years, and Journalism governs forever and ever.
Oscar WildeRead
The west was involved in toppling the Mossadegh government. That ultimately led to the Iranian revolution.
Salman RushdieRead
The morality of a [political] party must grow out of the conscience and the participation of the voters.
Eleanor RooseveltRead