Herbert Hoover - Government Quotes

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All progress and growth is a matter of change, but change must be growth within our social and government concepts if it should not destroy them.

Herbert Hoover
Any practice of business which would dominate the country by its own selfish interest is a destruction of equality of opportunity. Government in business, except in emergency, is also a destruction of equal opportunity and the incarnation of tyranny through bureaucracy.

Herbert Hoover
Governments know that the life of the world cannot be saved if the soul of the world is allowed to be lost.

Herbert Hoover
Self-government can succeed only through an instructed electorate.

Herbert Hoover
We supported the cooperative movement among farmers. The movement was still young and stubbornly opposed to the commercial distributors. I believed it to be one of the most helpful undertakings, for according to my social theories any organization run by citizens for their own welfare is preferable to the same action by the government.

Herbert Hoover
From the point of view of accuracy and intellectual honesty the more men of engineering background who become public officials, the better for representative government.

Herbert Hoover
It is just as important that business keep out of government as that government keep out of business.

Herbert Hoover
Along this road of spending, the government either takes over, which is Socialism, or dictates institutional and economic life, which is Fascism.

Herbert Hoover
When there is a lack of honor in government, the morals of the whole people are poisoned.

Herbert Hoover
If America is to be run by the people, it is the people who must think. And we do not need to put on sackcloth and ashes to think. Nor should our minds work like a sundial which records only sunshine. Our thinking must square against some lessons of history, some principles of government and morals, if we would preserve the rights and dignity of men to which this nation is dedicated.

Herbert Hoover
Where there is a lack of honor in the government, the morals of the whole people are poisoned.

Herbert Hoover
I am willing to pledge myself that if the time should ever come that the voluntary agencies of the country together with the local and state governments are unable to find resources with which to prevent hunger and suffering … I will ask the aid of every resource of the Federal Government.... I have the faith in the American people that such a day will not come.

Herbert Hoover
You cannot extend the mastery of government over the daily life of a people without somewhere making it master of people's souls and thoughts.… Every step in that direction poisons the very roots of liberalism. It poisons political equality, free speech, free press, and equality of opportunity. It is the road not to more liberty but to less liberty.

Herbert Hoover
The sole function of Government is to bring about a condition of affairs favorable to the beneficial development of private enterprise.

Herbert Hoover
As never before does the keeping of our economic machine in tune depend upon wise policies in the administrative side of the government.

Herbert Hoover
In my public statements I have earnestly urged that there rested upon government many responsibilities which affect the moral and spiritual welfare of our people. The participation of women in elections has produced a keener realization of the importance of these questions and has contributed to higher national ideals. Moreover, it is through them that our national ideals are ingrained in our children.

Herbert Hoover
We must not be misled by the claim that the source of all wisdom is in the government.

Herbert Hoover
I am firmly opposed to the government entering into any business the major purpose of which is competition with our citizens... for the Federal Government deliberately to go out to build up and expand... a power and manufacturing business is to break down the initiative and enterprise of the American people; it is the destruction of equality of opportunity amongst our people, it is the negation of the ideals upon which our civilization has been based.

Herbert Hoover
Bureaucracy is ever desirous of spreading its influence and its power. You cannot extend the mastery of the government over the daily working life of a people without at the same time making it the master of the people's souls and thoughts. Every expansion of government in business means that government in order to protect itself from the political consequences of its errors and wrongs is driven irresistibly without peace to greater and greater control of the nation's press and platform. Free speech does not live many hours after free industry and free commerce die.

Herbert Hoover
If the law is upheld only by government officials, then all law is at an end.

Herbert Hoover
In no nation are the institutions of progress more advanced. In no nation are the fruits of accomplishment more secure. In no nation is the government more worthy of respect. No country is more loved by its people. I have an abiding faith in their capacity, integrity and high purpose. I have no fears for the future of our country. It is bright with hope.

Herbert Hoover
If we could have but one generation of properly born, trained, educated, and healthy children, a thousand other problems of government would vanish.

Herbert Hoover
Freedom requires that government keep the channels of competition and opportunity open, prevent monopolies, economic abuse and domination.

Herbert Hoover