Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big

The words of Ronald Reagan — “Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.” — resound with humor, yet behind the laughter lies the sharp edge of truth. In this simple image, Reagan — a man of wit and wisdom — offers a profound warning about the nature of power and the dangers of dependency. The quote, though spoken in jest, carries the tone of an ancient parable: it teaches that government, once created to serve, may grow beyond its bounds, devouring much and giving little, unless the people who birthed it remain vigilant.

The origin of this quote lies in the spirit of the twentieth century, when the size and scope of government were expanding across the world. Reagan, who rose to prominence during the Cold War and later became one of America’s most influential presidents, believed deeply in the principles of limited government and individual responsibility. His words reflected the same suspicion of unchecked authority that had stirred the hearts of America’s founders — men who had seen tyranny dressed as benevolence and resolved never to kneel to it again. Reagan’s metaphor is timeless: the government, like a baby, consumes endlessly, demands constantly, and must be carefully guided lest its appetite overwhelm its guardians.

To call government a “baby” is to remind us that it is both innocent and dangerous. It is born of necessity — a creation of the people — meant to protect life, liberty, and property. Yet, like all living things, it grows according to what it is fed. When nourished by taxes, authority, and power, it learns to expect more. And if the people grow complacent, it soon forgets its purpose, mistaking dependence for compassion and control for care. It is the duty of citizens, then, to raise their government as they would a child: with discipline, with love of freedom, and with the courage to say “no” when indulgence becomes ruin.

History provides countless mirrors to Reagan’s warning. Consider the fall of the mighty Roman Republic. Born in virtue and governed by laws, Rome grew rich and powerful. But as the centuries passed, the state began to feed endlessly upon its people — taxing them to fund its armies, expanding its bureaucracy, and granting free bread and entertainment to pacify the masses. The citizens, once fierce and free, learned to depend upon the government’s bounty. In time, the republic became an empire, and the empire, a prison. The people had traded their responsibility for comfort, and in doing so, lost both. Thus, the baby of Rome grew into a devourer of nations.

Reagan’s humor conceals a deeper moral vision: that freedom requires self-restraint, both in the governed and in those who govern. A baby, though innocent, cannot be reasoned with — it only knows its own hunger. So too, a government that grows without accountability will consume without conscience. It will demand more from its citizens while excusing itself from duty. The people must, therefore, act as parents — wise, disciplined, and ever watchful — for when the state forgets that it serves the people, it soon begins to rule them.

The lesson, then, is clear and eternal: Responsibility is the price of freedom. A people who wish to remain free must never surrender their vigilance. They must demand efficiency from their leaders, accountability from their institutions, and humility from their laws. Just as a child learns from the example of its parents, government learns from the habits of its citizens. If the people live responsibly, govern themselves, and cherish liberty, the government will mirror that virtue. But if the people grow lazy and indulgent, so too will the state become gluttonous and corrupt.

So, let Reagan’s words serve as a torch for every generation: cherish your freedom, but guard it with discipline. Feed your government only what is necessary — the bare measure of power needed to protect, not to control. And when it hungers for more, remember the ancient warning that power, once unchecked, devours all.

In the end, the balance between liberty and authority depends not on the wisdom of rulers, but on the virtue of the ruled. A wise people will keep their government as they keep a child — loved, cared for, but never allowed to rule the house. For if the baby is indulged too long, it will grow into a master; but if it is guided with firmness and love, it will remain a servant. Thus spoke Reagan — in jest, yet with the gravity of ages: “Government is like a baby” — a truth wrapped in laughter, a warning wrapped in wit, and a call to every free soul to remain forever vigilant.