Above all we should not forget that government is an evil, a usurpation upon the private judgement and individual conscience of mankind.
Quote by William Godwin about conscience
Quotes by William Godwin
42 quotes by William Godwin
William Godwin - english Writer
Life period: 1756-1836
As the true object of education is not to render the pupil the mere copy of his preceptor, it is rather to be rejoiced in, than lamented, that various reading should lead him into new trains of thinking.
Quote by William Godwin about trains, education, thinking
But the watchful care of the parent is endless. The youth is never free from the danger of grating interference.
Quote by William Godwin about danger, youth
Every man has a certain sphere of discretion which he has a right to expect shall not be infringed by his neighbours. This right flows from the very nature of man.
Quote by William Godwin about rightness, man, nature
Everything understood by the term co-operation is in some sense an evil.
Quote by William Godwin about common sense, sense
Government will not fail to employ education, to strengthen its hands, and perpetuate its institutions.
Quote by William Godwin about education
He has no right to his life when his duty calls him to resign it. Other men are bound... to deprive him of life or liberty, if that should appear in any case to be indispensably necessary to prevent a greater evil.
Quote by William Godwin about duty, liberty, life, rightness, man
How can any one have genuine happiness, unless in proportion as he looks round, and, behold, every thing is very good?
Quote by William Godwin about happiness, things, good, good luck
If a thing be really good, it can be shown to be such.
Quote by William Godwin about things, good, good luck
In cases where every thing is understood, and measured, and reduced to rule, love is out of the question.
Quote by William Godwin about rules, question, things, love
It is probable that there is no one thing that it is of eminent importance for a child to learn.
Quote by William Godwin about children, things
Learning is the ally, not the adversary of genius... he who reads in a proper spirit, can scarcely read too much.
Quote by William Godwin about genius, spirit
Let us not, in the eagerness of our haste to educate, forget all the ends of education.
Quote by William Godwin about end, education
Make men wise, and by that very operation you make them free. Civil liberty follows as a consequence of this; no usurped power can stand against the artillery of opinion.
Quote by William Godwin about consequences, opinion, liberty, power, man
Man is the only creature we know, that, when the term of his natural life is ended, leaves the memory of himself behind him.
Quote by William Godwin about memory, man, life
