Henry David Thoreau Quotes

We believe in American government, and we fully expect that those who now denigrate it, and even despise it, will soon or late find themselves turning to it in necessity, even desperation.

Let every American … swear by the blood of the Revolution, never to violate in the least particular, the laws of the country and never to tolerate their violation by others. Let reverence for the laws … become the political religion of the nation.

Standing up to your government can mean standing up for your country.

Loyalty to the country always. Loyalty to the government when it deserves it.

A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.

It is not the Government, the members of Parliament to whom the ultimate decision belongs, it is up to you to go forward sure of your sacred right of free opinion, sure of your patriotism.

By definition, a government has no conscience. Sometimes it has a policy, but nothing more.

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.

Real patriotism is a willingness to challenge the government when it's wrong.

There is no nation so powerful, as the one that obeys its laws not from principals of fear or reason, but from passion.

Who can protest and does not, is an accomplice in the act.

I feel sorry for those who measure their patriotism by how often and how viciously they can criticize our government.

Former good legislators have erred, and those of the best polity may err again, and enact laws which ought to be disobeyed and resisted.

To what higher station, to what greater glory can any mortal aspire, than to be, during the whole course of his life, the support of good, the control of bad government, and the guardian of public liberty?

The most patriotic and American thing you can do is to distrust your government

No man has a right to disturb the public peace, by personally resisting the execution of a law however bad. He ought to acquiesce, using at the same time the utmost powers of his reason, to promote its repeal.

...the true patriotism, the only rational patriotism, is loyalty to the Nation ALL the time, loyalty to the Government when it deserves it.

An actual residence of such a length of time as would give a man an opportunity of esteeming the Government from knowing its intrinsic value, was essentially necessary to assure us of a man’s becoming a good citizen.

I love my country, not my government.

I'm a better American than 99% of the guys in the White House.

Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country.

But let us remember, at the same time, government is sacred, and not to be trifled with.

It is one of the great tragedies of the US, that most learn most of what they know about the government from the government.

I believe that it is my right and responsibility as an American to question our government when our government is wrong.

Artists have a responsibility to speak and to act when governments fail, and if we don't do that, we really deserve the world we get.