political

[vinupd]

who said "that government is the best that governs the least"?

[justalady21]

� I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe, "That government is best which governs not at all"; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have.
Henry David Thoreau
Civil Disobedience 1846

Although it is probable that the 'motto' to which Thoreau refers in the quote above was from:

'That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves. '
Thomas Jefferson
3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)

Trivia
Thomas Jefferson's quote is often used as a motto for Libertarians.