Quotes About Self-reliance

It is certain, I think, that the best government is the one that governs the least. But there is a much-neglected corollary: the best citizen is the one who least needs governing.

South Dakota is a great state because of its values, not because of dependence on government.

We were poor when I was young but the difference was that the government didn't come around telling you you were poor.

We who live in free market societies believe that growth and prosperity, and ultimately human fulfillment are created from the bottom up, not the government down.

Whenever government assumes to deliver us from the trouble of thinking for ourselves, the only consequences it produces are those of torpor and imbecility.

the government can do nothing for you. But you can do everything for yourselves

When government accepts responsibility for people, then people no longer take responsibility for themselves.

The only thing I believe is individual responsibility doesn't mean the government is the answer to ever fear and every problem every individual has. We are the masters of our own destiny.

The true slogan of a true democracy is not 'Let the Government do it' but rather, 'let's do it ourselves'.... This is the spirit of a people dedicated to helping themselves and one another.

Government cripples you, then hands you a crutch and says, 'See, if it wasn't for us, you couldn't walk.'

What I can't understand is, how can anybody figure now that the government can support us, when we support the government.

The policy of the American government is to leave their citizens free, neither restraining nor aiding them in their pursuits.

. . . Government should do only those things the people cannot do for themselves.

We must always remember that America is a great nation today not because of what government did for people but because of what people did for themselves and for one another.

And having looked to Government for bread, on the very first scarcity they will turn and bite the hand that fed them.

Government should stay the hell out of people's business.

What government is the best? That which teaches us to govern ourselves. [Ger., Welche Regierung die beste sei? Diejenige die uns lehrt uns selbst zu regieren.]

I've never needed government to hold my hand.

Nobody but a beggar chooses to depend chiefly upon the benevolence of his fellow-citizens.

We who live in free market societies believe that growth, prosperity and ultimately human fulfillment, are created from the bottom up, not the government down.

I do not want to see any of the people cringing supplicants for the favor of the Government, when they should all be independent masters of their own destiny.

If governments would only understand that if people are left alone they'll work out their own salvation.

Government charity gives the most to those who refuse to help themselves; private charity gives less.

It was a struggle financing CNN, but I did it without ever asking the government for a nickel.