Governments, like clocks, go from the motion that men give them. Therefore, governments rather depend upon men, than men upon governments. Let the men be good, then the government cannot be bad; if the men be bad, then government will never be good. I know some say 'let us have good laws and no matter for the people who execute them.' But let them consider that though good laws do well, good men do better. For good laws may lack good men, but good men will never lack good laws nor allow bad ones.
- William Penn in 1681, America, Character Counts
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