Nothing is so galling to a people not broken in from the birth as a paternal, or, in other words, a meddling government, a government which tells them what to read, and say, and eat, and drink and wear.

Summary

This quote conveys the idea that when a population has not grown accustomed to excessive government interference from an early age, it becomes greatly irritating for them. It criticizes a paternalistic or meddling government that is excessively involved in regulating individuals' choices, including what they can read, say, consume, or wear. The quote suggests that such government intrusion infringes upon personal freedom and undermines the independence of individuals.

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