Quote by Thomas Carlyle
Only perhaps in the United States, which alone of countries can do without governing,every man being at least able to live, and move off into the wilderness, let Congress jargon as it will,can such a form of so-called Government continue for any length of time to torment men with the semblance, when the indispensable substance is not there.
Summary
This quote suggests that in the United States, unlike in other countries, the government is not necessary for people to survive. The idea is that because individuals in the US have the ability to go live in the wilderness and take care of themselves, the government becomes obsolete in some sense. The quote also implies that the government's actions are merely a deceptive façade, lacking substance and only serving to cause trouble for its citizens. Ultimately, the quote criticizes the idea that the US government is indispensable and questions its longevity.