Government and Fire

A quick check online suggests the quote may be misattributed or outright fabricated, but George Washington is credited with saying, "Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action."

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There is a fundamental error in that sentiment, though. While fire is dangerous, it can be controlled with proper care, and it can provide beneficial services. Government cannot be controlled despite the trappings of democracy and a constitutional republic. The benefits government provides suffer from all the flaws of any monopoly service, and the consumer is usually forbidden from seeking any alternatives, resulting in a severe economic calculation problem. Government is only a master, never a servant. And it is indeed fearsome, because every arbitrary dictate is backed by the threat of theft, kidnapping, and murder.

Government is far worse than fire. Play with government and you will inevitably burn others, and likely yourself, too.

Government cannot be controlled despite the trappings of democracy and a constitutional republic.

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There is a quote from Thomas Jefferson with a similar sentiment, "the price of liberty is eternal vigilance," though it too, sadly, is fake. I'm fairly certain that "the price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men," a quote from Plato, is real, and it illustrates the comparison between government and fire much better. The fire that is government has been burning unsupervised for so long that any efforts to contain it will be for nought. Without a long tradition of responsible self-governance, as you see in rural areas, then big-city-style bureaucracies become the norm.

@jacobtothe So very true.

Definitely... Government is the fuel that burns uncontrollable fires, it takes average men to contain the fire but it won't stop trying to expand its flames.