Michael Gove Quotes

In a democracy, power implies responsibility.

Leave no authority existing not responsible to the people.

Governance is a way of organizing, amplifying, and constraining power.

Democracy is the fig leaf of elitism.

Each age must … contend anew with the question of power and accountability.

It's absolutely right that we scrutinise the leaders who after all are going to be in a position of great power.

Well, surely, I am not in charge of South Africa.

Let the people think they govern and they will be governed.

Yes, I'm your governor now. I'll take care of you.

You must see the persons who are in charge - persons you can punish or vote for.

All government is a trust. Every branch of government is a trust, and immemorially acknowledged to be so.

The people who own the country ought to govern it.

Democracy needs leaders, not masters.

The British are a people who are generally happy, under normal circumstances, to trust politicians to tell us the truth and to leave them to run the country as we get on with our lives. But we reserve the right, always, to make it clear that they are our servants, not our masters, and, when necessary, we can and will take charge.

To rule is easy, to govern difficult.

It's so much easier to throw rocks than it is to govern.

It is a great matter to be in authority over others; for authority, if it be rightly used, will make you feared beyond your actual resources.

Power should be reserved for weightlifting and boats, and leadership really involves responsibility.

I come from election, I come from the people. I owe gratitude to our people. I do everything for the good of the country and the people.

Politics is activity in relation to power.

My desire to devolve authority has nothing to do with a wish to shirk responsibility.

Government, in the last analysis, is organized opinion. Where there is little or no public opinion, there is likely to be bad government.

All political power is a trust.

Democracy has always been in crisis: democracy is all about practicing the art of bearable dissatisfaction. In democratic societies, people often complain about their leaders and their institutions. The gap between the ideal democracy and the existing one cannot be bridged.

At least the politicians are accountable to the voters.