I’ve always been a lover of quotations for many years regardless of the time period from which they’ve sprung.  I’ve discovered quotes from politicians in ancient Greece that remain totally applicable to the nonsense we witness every day in Washington. I’ve even found myself shocked and awed that occasionally someone I disagree with politically will say something noteworthy.  The old adage that “Even a blind man will find a pearl eventually” remains true.  So here are a few of my favorites that most of our current pols should be required to read and memorize before running for office.

“There are two parts of good government; one is the actual obedience of citizens to the laws, the other part is the goodness of the laws which they obey.” Aristotle (384-322 BC)

“The effect of a good government is to make life more valuable; of a bad one, to make it less valuable.” Henry David Thoreau 4 Jul 1874

“A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul”.” George Bernard Shaw 1944

“In this [economic] crisis, government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem.” Ronald Reagan 20 Jan 81

“Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.”  Thomas Paine, Common Sense 1776

“A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away.”  Barry M. Goldwater 21 Oct 64

See what I mean?  Almost everything we say or do had been said and done already.  It makes reading them, listening to them, and understanding them even more important today. I’ll leave you with that thought as I head out the door for a day of relaxation at a local church fair and then later to the beach to cool off.  I hope your weekend is a good one as well.