Government can have no more than two legitimate purposes - the suppression of injustice against individuals within the community, and the common defense against external invasion.
William GodwinThe cause of justice is the cause of humanity. Its advocates should overflow with universal good will. We should love this cause, for it conduces to the general happiness of mankind.
William GodwinLet us not, in the eagerness of our haste to educate, forget all the ends of education.
William GodwinThe execution of any thing considerable implies in the first place previous persevering meditation.
William GodwinDuty is that mode of action on the part of the individual which constitutes the best possible application of his capacity to the general benefit.
William GodwinBy right, as the word is employed in this subject, has always been understood discretion, that is, a full and complete power of either doing a thing or omitting it, without the person's becoming liable to animadversion or censure from another, that is, in other words, without his incurring any degree of turpitude or guilt. Now in this sense I affirm that man has no rights, no discretionary power whatever.
William Godwin