“Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves.”
- February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004
- American
- The 40th President of the United States, Actor, Politician, Governor of California
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Quote
“Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves.”
Explanation
This quote expresses Ronald Reagan’s libertarian-leaning view of limited government, emphasizing that the proper role of the state is to safeguard individuals from harm by others, not to control personal choices or behavior. The first sentence defines government’s legitimate function: upholding laws and maintaining order to ensure mutual protection. The second sentence draws a sharp line, warning that when government seeks to regulate private actions for an individual’s own good, it oversteps and infringes on personal liberty.
Reagan often critiqued what he saw as government paternalism, where policies attempted to guide or coerce citizens “for their own benefit.” This view shaped his stance against overregulation, excessive welfare dependency, and bureaucratic control. The historical context includes growing federal programs from previous decades and the rising conservative call in the 1980s for personal responsibility and deregulation. Reagan’s belief was that freedom includes the right to make one’s own mistakes, and that maturity as a society means trusting individuals to make choices for themselves.
In contemporary debates—ranging from public health mandates to drug laws and speech regulation—this quote continues to raise vital questions about the boundary between public safety and individual autonomy. While protecting public welfare is essential, Reagan’s words caution against a state that overreaches into private life under the guise of care, reminding us that true freedom means owning not just our rights, but our risks.
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