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Our founders, in the words of Thomas Paine, recognized that, “Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.

— Walter E. Williams American Contempt for Liberty (2015)

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More quotes by Walter E. Williams

Erring on the side of over-caution is costly, and so is erring on the side of under-caution, though for a given choice, one might be costlier than the other.

Economics for the Citizen (2005)

How does something immoral, when done privately, become moral when it is done collectively?

All It Takes is Guts: A Minority View (1987)

Do-gooders fail to realize that most good is not done in the name of good but done in the name of self-interest.

American Contempt for Liberty (2015)

We should view our government the way we should a friendly, cuddly lion. Just because he’s friendly and cuddly shouldn’t blind us to the fact that he’s still got teeth and claws.

Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?

All It Takes is Guts: A Minority View (1987)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Walter E. Williams (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.