Political philosophy quotations: Who authored the famous statement, 'That government is best which governs least'? Context: This maxim about limited government is closely associated with a 19th-century American thinker's essay on civil authority. Choose the correct author.
General Knowledge
Books and Authors
Difficulty: Easy
Choose an option
Answer
Correct Answer: Henry David Thoreau
Explanation
Concept/ApproachThe maxim is widely associated with Henry David Thoreau from his essay Resistance to Civil Government (commonly titled Civil Disobedience), arguing for minimal state interference.
ClarificationThough sometimes attributed to Jefferson, the phrasing and argument are classically linked to Thoreau's transcendentalist critique of government.
Final AnswerHenry David Thoreau.