Quote by Percy Bysshe Shelley
Government is an evil it is only the thoughtlessness and vices of men that make it a necessary evil. When all men are good and wise, government will of itself decay.
Summary
This quote suggests that government is inherently problematic and can be considered as an "evil." However, it argues that the need for government arises due to the shortcomings and flaws of individuals, such as thoughtlessness and vices, which necessitate an external governing body. The quote further implies that in a hypothetical scenario where all people are virtuous and intelligent, there would be no need for government as self-governance would prevail, leading governments to naturally become obsolete and fade away.