William Godwin
William Godwin
William Godwinwas an English journalist, political philosopher and novelist. He is considered one of the first exponents of utilitarianism, and the first modern proponent of anarchism. Godwin is most famous for two books that he published within the space of a year: An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, an attack on political institutions, and Things as They Are; or, The Adventures of Caleb Williams, which attacks aristocratic privilege, but also is the first mystery novel. Based on the success of both,...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth3 March 1756
William Godwin quotes about
beware business claim consistency force government influence tendency
Obey; this may be right; but beware of reverence. Government is nothing but regulated force; force is its appropriate claim upon your attention. It is the business of individuals to persuade; the tendency of concentrated strength, is only to give consistency and permanence to an influence more compendious than persuasion.
education employ english-writer fail government perpetuate strengthen
Government will not fail to employ education, to strengthen its hands, and perpetuate its institutions.
two government community
Government can have no more than two legitimate purposes - the suppression of injustice against individuals within the community, and the common defense against external invasion.
government giving consistency
Obey; this may be right; but beware of reverence.... Government is nothing but regulated force; force is its appropriate claim upon your attention. It is the business of individuals to persuade; the tendency of concentrated strength, is only to give consistency and permanence to an influence more compendious than persuasion.
school hands government
Government will not fail to employ education, to strengthen its hands and perpetuate its institutions.
teacher fall government
As long as parents and teachers in general shall fall under the established rule, it is clear that politics and modes of government will educate and infect us all. They poison our minds, before we can resist, or so much as suspect their malignity. Like the barbarous directors of the Eastern seraglios, they deprive us of our vitality, and fit us for their despicable employment from the cradle.
government evil judgement
Above all we should not forget that government is an evil, a usurpation upon the private judgement and individual conscience of mankind.
thinking government assuming
Whenever government assumes to deliver us from the trouble of thinking for ourselves, the only consequences it produces are those of torpor and imbecility.
books books-and-reading considered depends derive generation handed impression inspire love medium merciless mind otherwise piety represent seems teachers temper true tyrannical
Books have been handed down from generation to generation, as the true teachers of piety and the love of God, that represent him as so merciless and tyrannical a despot, that, if they were considered otherwise than through the medium of prejudice, they could inspire nothing but hatred. It seems that the impression we derive from a book, depends much less on its real contents, than upon the temper of mind and preparation with which we read it.
best individual judgment knowledge liberty possible therefore violence volition willingly
Liberty is one of the best of all sublunary advantages. I would willingly therefore communicate knowledge, without infringing, or with as little possible violence to, the volition and individual judgment of the person to be instructed.
adversary genius learning proper reads scarcely
Learning is the ally, not the adversary of genius . . . he who reads in a proper spirit, can scarcely read too much.
english-writer
To him it is an ocean, unfathomable, and without a shore.
english-writer
If a thing be really good, it can be shown to be such.
duty english-writer held
They held it their duty to live but for their country.