Quote#Politics & Power
The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of…
Quote byAbraham Lincoln · 1809–1865
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Fragment on Government (1 July 1854?) in "The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln", ed. Roy P. Basler, Vol. 2, pp. 220-221.
English (original)
The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves - in their separate, and individual capacities. In all that the people can individually do as well for themselves, government ought not to interfere.
— Abraham Lincoln
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