Wilhelm von Humboldt was born today in 1767. And he was a pretty smart guy:
"Diejenige Regierung ist die beste, die sich überflüssing macht."--Wilhelm von HumboldtTranslation:
"That government is best which makes itself unnecessary."A few more of his quotes:
"To inquire and to create;—these are the grand centres around which all human pursuits revolve, or at least to these objects do they all more or less directly refer."
"Governmental regulations all carry coercion to some degree, and even where they don't, they habituate man to expect teaching, guidance and help outside himself, instead of formulating his own."
"Freedom exalts power; and, as is always the collateral effect of increasing strength, tends to induce a spirit of liberality. Coercion stifles power, and engenders all selfish desires, and all the mean artifices of weakness. Coercion may prevent many transgressions; but it robs even actions which are legal of a portion of their beauty. Freedom may lead to many transgressions, but it lends even to vices a less ignoble form."
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