Goethe, Johann von -- Sprüche in Prosa: Maximen und Reflexionen [Proverbs in Prose: Maxims and Reflections] (1833) [tr. Saunders (1893), “Life and Characters,” #225]

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Which is the best government? That which teaches us to govern ourselves.

[Welche Regierung die beste sei? Diejenige, die uns lehrt, uns selbst zu regieren.]

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German poet, statesman, scientist
Sprüche in Prosa: Maximen und Reflexionen [Proverbs in Prose: Maxims and Reflections] (1833) [tr. Saunders (1893), “Life and Characters,” #225]

From Art and Antiquity, Vol. 5, #3, Individual Points (1826).

(Source (German)). Other translations:

I am asked: which is the best government? That which teaches us to govern ourselves.
[tr. Rönnfeldt (1900)]

You ask which form of government is the best? Whichever teaches us to govern ourselves.
[tr. Stopp (1995), #353]

Hoffer, Eric -- Passionate State of Mind, Aphorism 176 (1955)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

The basic test of freedom is perhaps less in what we are free to do than in what we are free not to do.

Eric Hoffer (1902–1983) American writer, philosopher, longshoreman
Passionate State of Mind, Aphorism 176 (1955)

WIST Quotations

Goethe, Johann von -- Sprüche in Prosa: Maximen und Reflexionen [Proverbs in Prose: Maxims and Reflections] (1833) [tr. Saunders (1893), “Life and Characters,” #225]

Hoffer, Eric -- Passionate State of Mind, Aphorism 176 (1955)