A Quote by Niccolo Machiavelli

A government which does not trust its citizens to be armed is not itself to be trusted.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Quote Topics

Armed Citizens Does Government Itself Trust Trusted Which

Quote Author

Niccolo Machiavelli
Italian - Writer
May 3, 1469 - June 21, 1527

No government can be trusted, that does not trust its own people with military-style arms of greater weight and power than those possessed by the central government itself.

Vin Suprynowicz

The danger (where there is any) from armed citizens, is only to the *government*, not to *society*; and as long as they have nothing to revenge in the government (which they cannot have while it is in their own hands) there are many advantages in their being accustomed to the use of arms, and no possible disadvantage.

Joel Barlow

Government ... can't be trusted to control its own bureaucrats or collect taxes equitably or fill a pothole, much less decide which of its citizens to kill.

Helen Prejean

Only a government that does not trust its citizens would refuse them the right to bear arms.

Curt Weldon

I think there are certain folks in Missouri that don't trust government. And they haven't trusted government for a long time.

Claire McCaskill

A government that can take all and can seize all, a government that doesn't trust its citizens, a government that says it's their way or the highway... that's the scary part.

Paul Gosar

The very highest is barely known. Then comes that which people know and love, Then that which is feared, Then that which is despised. Who does not trust enough will not be trusted.

Laozi

It has been said that terror is the principle of despotic government. Does your government therefore resemble despotism? Yes, as the sword that gleams in the hands of the heroes of liberty resembles that with which the henchmen of tyranny are armed ... The government of the revolution is liberty's despotism against tyranny.

Maximilien Robespierre

Forgiveness does not come easily to us, especially when someone we have trusted betrays our trust. And yet if we do not learn to forgive, we will discover that we can never really rebuild trust.

Billy Graham

I'm eternally grateful to fate and the citizens of Russia that they've trusted me to be the head of the Russian government.

Vladimir Putin

A government which can protect and defend its citizens from wrong and outrage and does not is vicious. A government which would do it and cannot is weak; and where human life is insecure through either weakness or viciousness in the administration of law, there must be a lack of justice and where this is wanting, nothing can make up the deficiency.

Frances Harper

In sorting out my feelings and beliefs, there is, however, one piece of moral ground of which I am absolutely certain: if I were to be murdered I would not want my murderer executed. I would not want my death avenged. Especially by government--which can't be trusted to control its own bureaucrats or collect taxes equitably or fill a pothole, much less decide which of its citizens to kill.

Helen Prejean

An armed republic submits less easily to the rule of one of its citizens than a republic armed by foreign forces. Rome and Sparta were for many centuries well armed and free. The Swiss are well armed and enjoy great freedom. Among other evils caused by being disarmed, it renders you contemptible. It is not reasonable to suppose that one who is armed will obey willingly one who is unarmed; or that any unarmed man will remain safe among armed servants.

Niccolo Machiavelli

I was a guy who trusted the government. Now, I don't trust a damn thing they do.

Steven Hatfill

Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.