Saturday, September 11, 2010

Public Opinion v Pretense of Governing


I am convinced that those societies (as the Indians) which live without government enjoy in their general mass an infinitely greater degree of happiness than those who live under the European governments. Among the former, public opinion is in the place of law, & restrains morals as powerfully as laws ever did anywhere. Among the latter, under pretence of governing they have divided their nations into two classes, wolves & sheep. I do not exaggerate. This is a true picture of Europe.
Thomas Jefferson (Jan. 16. 1787, Letter to Edward Carrington)

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