September 10

"A government is like fire, a handy servant, but a dangeous master.

George Washington, 1st President, 1789-1797 This is a good, wise, and popular quote; however, its source and validity appear to be in dispute. The complete quote reads: Government is not reason, it is not eloquence — it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action. According to Wikiquotes, 'it is attributed to "The First President of the United States" in "Liberty and Government" by W. M., in The Christian Science Journal, Vol. XX, No. 8 (November 1902) edited by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 465. No earlier or original source for this often quoted statement is cited, nor has such yet been found in research done for Wikiquote.' We may have to put this one in the same category as another legendary quote attributed to Washington, when as a child he was asked what happened to a fallen cherry tree. His reply: "I can not tell a lie; I did it with my little hatchet."