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August 4, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The goalposts will keep moving as long as they know you’ll obey”

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in many government statements and policies, such as the initial "two weeks to flatten the curve." Many people felt the government kept moving the goalposts.…

October 23, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The government can legally lie to you. But they cannot force you to trust them”

The passing of the Smith–Mundt Modernization Act of 2012 caused many to believe that it was now legal for the U.S. government to lie to its citizens. "The government can legally lie to you.…

March 5, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The government doesn’t want you living a long happy life. They owe you social security”

"The government doesn't want you living a long happy life. They owe you social security" is a saying that has been printed on an image. If a person pays into Social Security but dies…

April 26, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthMusic/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“The government faked Michael Jackson’s moonwalk”

Moon landing conspiracy theories have been popular, and there have been jokes that Michael Jackson's famous "Moonwalk" dance was also faked. "RT @stephanathome: I believe…

October 29, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The government has no plans to return your freedom. How long will it take to realize that?”

Entry in progress -- BP TwitterAlfalfa&Thyme@MasterTeacher03The government has no plans to return your “freedom”5:36 PM · Jul 28, 2021·Twitter for iPhone TwitterShivambu@GamurogerThe…

April 13, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The government in this town is excellent and uses your tax dollars efficiently” (joke)

On the American political satire mockumentary television sitcom Parks and Recreation, the episode "Correspondents' Lunch" (Season 5, Episode 15) that originally aired on February 21,…

March 11, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The government is good at one thing. It knows how to break your legs, and then hand you a crutch”

Entry in progress -- BP Wikiquote: Harry BrowneHarry Edson Browne (17 June 1933 – 1 March 2006) was an American politician, libertarian writer and public speaker, and investment analyst. He was…

August 4, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The government is just a business with no incentive to deliver agreed upon services…”

"The government is just a business with no incentive to deliver agreed upon services because their customers pay them under threat of incarceration" (shown on an image) was posted on…

August 21, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The government is just the armed gang you’re afraid would take over in the absence of government”

"The government is just the armed gang that you're afraid would take over in the absence of government" (shown on an image) was posted on Twitter by author Larken Rose on March 3,…

January 8, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The government is lucky that people never think”

"The government is lucky that people never think" is a saying that has been printed on many images. “What good fortune for governments that the people do not think” is another form of…

October 12, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /HealthMedia/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet

“The government is the virus. The media is how it spreads. People’s behavior is the pandemic. Common sense is the cure”

“The media is the virus. People’s behavior is the pandemic. Common sense is the cure” is a saying that became popular in June 2020, during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. "The…

September 18, 2019
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The government offered to buy my guns from me…” (joke)

A joke about gun buyback programs was posted on Reddit -- Jokes on September 17, 2019: "The government offered to buy my guns from me. But after a thorough background check of the buyer, I am…

February 10, 2024
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The government sells fear so they can become your savior”

"The government sells fear so they can become your savior" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "The government sells fear so they can become a savior. Jesus says…

April 15, 2023
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The government today is the direct result of your choosing the lesser of two evils for generations”

"The government today is the direct result of your choosing the lesser of two evils for generations" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying refers to voting for the…

February 9, 2010
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The governor proposes and the legislature disposes”

"Man proposes, (but) God disposes" is an old proverb, indicating that God is the final arbiter of proposals. "The governor proposes and the legislature disposes" is a state…

November 22, 2021
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The Great Resist. They will own nobody and they will be unhappy”

“You’ll own nothing. And you’ll be happy” is a saying that the World Economic Forum has popularized since 2016, and has been associated with its plans for a Great Reset. Some "Great…

June 11, 2017
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The great thing about democracy is that it gives every voter a chance to do something stupid”

"The great thing about democracy is that it gives every voter a chance to do something stupid" is a political saying that has been printed on many images. San Francisco (CA) Examiner…

April 2, 2022
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules…”

"The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules but by people following the rules. It’s people who follow orders that drop bombs and massacre villages"…

July 11, 2025
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The greatest obstacle to liberty is not the existence of evil rulers, but the belief in the existence of good ruler”

"The greatest obstacle to liberty is not the existence of evil rulers, but the belief in the existence of good ruler" was included in the book The Pith of Life: Aphorisms in Honor of…

January 20, 2020
Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health

“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it”

"The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it" is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying is from Robert Swan, the first person to walk…

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BARRY POPIK is a contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary, Dictionary of American Regional English, Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Yale Book of Quotations and Dictionary of Modern Proverbs. Since 1990 he has also been a regular contributor to Gerald Cohen's Comments on Etymology.

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