![]() And wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well. In most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgement or of the moral sense, but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones. The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly but as machines with their bodies. The standing army is only an arm of the standing government. The objections which have been brought against a standing army, and they are many and weighty and deserve to prevail, may also at last be brought against a standing government. Government is at best but an expedient, but most governments are usually and all governments are sometimes inexpedient. And when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have. ![]() Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe-”That government is best which governs not at all”. I heartily accept the motto, “That government is best which governs least” and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. 159 On the Duty of Civil Disobedience (1849) ![]()
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