"Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it."
by:
Henry David Thoreau
(1817-1862) American author, poet, philosopher, polymath, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian, and transcendentalist
Source:
Journal, February 3, 1860
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Reader comments about this quote:
 -- Joe, Rochester, MI      
A great and accurate statement. Such a short and to the point explanation of why compelled compliance, license, enforcement of victimless crimes, larceny with impunity, and the loss of individual sovereignty and inalienable rights have been so supported !
 -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    We need to take a hard look at the "rules" imposed by Congress and the IRS over the last 100 years and after individual examination, start repealing them if they are in any way unConstitutional.
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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    Unfortunately it's in their nature...
     -- RBESRQ     
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    Love it! One of my favorite quotes. Hey, 'progressives,' he's talking about you who think us all fools (except yourselves) and keep pushing for more 'regulation' and 'control' over everyone in order to 'level the playing field' and 'protect' us from ourselves.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Good work Henry.
     -- Johann Hollar, St. Paul     
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    Abigail Adams said, "When a mind is raised and animated by scenes that engage the heart, then those qualities which would otherwise lay dormant wake into life and form the character of the hero and the statesman." We need to pray, friends, that there will be someone with the intestinal fortitude and the strength of character to LEAD us back to our Founder's vision.
     -- Abigail, Newport     
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    Archer, you lost cause - you have no idea what you are talking about. Under the GOP and conservatives we have become fascist which produce one of the most egregious controls of all time "The Patriot Act" and a lot more... If you are going to name call get your facts strait...
     -- RBESRQ     
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    Whether the collectivists attempting to control others are progressives, religionists, or nationalists, the assumption is the same, that the People are generally fools and in need of guidance to the point of servitude to an elite. It is the same old story: we can't be trusted to live our own lives, we must be 'taught' and conditioned into a particular theosophy under the control of a few others who somehow are wiser and more trustworthy than the rest of us. RBE, your same complaints about religion are similar to my complaints about progressive socialism -- it is about bowing down to an external authority and paying tribute for 'protection' and 'security' for the cause of 'world peace.' Indeed a worthy ideal, but self-righteous indeed to assert that YOUR plan and YOUR people are the ones we must obey ultimately for YOUR own benefit. While there are laws to enforce driving on the right side of the road, people drive on the right side of the road because they don't want to crash into oncoming vehicles -- self-preservation trumps statutory rules. People who love to make rules think the world is going well because of the rules and that without them all hell would break lose. That is because they truly believe most of us to be fools. And, hey, make a people dependent upon some 'authority' and yes they will not learn how to be independent. Ignorance may be bliss, but some of us are willing to learn through our suffering.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Robert, the GOP were/are fascist Keynesians when the Dems in control of the legislature really pumped up the Patriot Act. Never to be out done by the fascist statist theocracy's Mr. Obamunist Goodwrench the assassin and is nationalization party (anti industry / prosperity) of egregious control freaks.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Archer - I fully concur with your statement. Sadly, Social Engineers such as the Progressive Mental Amoeba's like RBESRQ pathetically don't get it and mysteriously assume that we support Progressive GWB's egregious and constitution shredding Patriot Act.

    What we don't hail or support RBESRQ are Progressive Activists who sit on either side of the aisle who are blatantly willing to diminish, shred and gut any of our natural born Unalienable Rights and protections.
     -- Mary - MI     
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    @Mary, well said!
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Yeah Mary well said
     -- KK, Ijmsville     
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     -- Mary, MI      
     -- jim k, austin      
     
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