phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions at

The Phrase Finder
Phrases, Sayings and Idioms Home > Discussion Forum

- We are also on

A Phrase A Week - Facebook Group & Follow aphraseaweek on Twitter

Re: A government big enough to give you everything you want

Posted by Brian from Shawnee on April 08, 2009 at 18:13

In Reply to: A government big enough to give you everything you want posted by marylily on April 08, 2009 at 17:44:

: Does anyone have an historical frame of reference for the quote used by Barry Goldwater and Gerald Ford: "a government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take everything you have". Even though it seems a little oxymoronish, I am still interested in the origin.

: Who first said "give a hungry man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a hungry man how to fish, and he eats for a lifetime"?

Oxymoronish? If something is big enough to do A (good), it is also big enough to do B (bad). How's that an oxymoron?