Thomas Paine Quotes

This is a country for, of, and by the people not for, of, and by the government. If we turn it over to them we cannot complain about what they're doing because this is a natural course of men and we have to hold their feet to the fire.

Our whole system of government is based on "We the people," but if we the people don't pay attention to what's going on, we have no right to bellyache or squawk when things go wrong.

Freedom exists only where the people take care of the government.

The fight for reform comes down to a simple goal: giving our citizens the confidence that government serves the people first and the people only.

I believe the job of the FBI Director is to be as transparent as possible with the American people because we work for them.

My sole motive is to inform the public as to that which is done in their name and that which is done against them.

War should only be declared by the authority of the people, whose toils and treasures are to support its burdens, instead of the government which is to reap its fruits.

I believed the only thing that could turn around this government spending and mounting debt would be if the people rose up.

No one in government should ever think that the citizens they work for can't or won't scrutinize their actions.

The Declaration of Independence says when government fails, the people have the right to replace it. Well, New York State government has failed and the people have the right, indeed the people have the the people have the obligation, to act.

A democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it.

Too many people in government seem to think they are above regular folks, and I said I would expect humility in the way each member of my team served- that they would recognize that the taxpayer is boss.

Even in non-democratic countries, people have a legitimate interest in knowing about actions taken by the government.

In America, the people are not subjects of government, the government is subject to the people.

I believe that government is the servant of the people and not their master.

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

The American people need to know the truth. The American people need to see the truth. In a democracy, letting the people know the truth is the essence of what it means to be free.

National security laws must protect national security. But they must also protect the public trust and preserve the ability of an informed electorate to hold its government to account.

The government serves the people - not vice-versa.

I ask the rights to pursue happiness by having a voice in that government to which I am accountable.

In a democracy, people usually get the kind of government they deserve, and they deserve what they get.

Ask not what you can do for your country; ask what your government is doing to you.

We must remember that the people do not belong to the government but that government belongs to the people.

We" are not the government; the government is not "us." The government does not in any accurate sense "represent" the majority of the people

... we, the people, elect leaders not to rule but to serve.