“That is the problem with governments these days. They want to do things all the time; they are always very busy thinking of what things they can do next. That is not what people want. People want to be left alone to look after their cattle.”

— Alexander McCall Smith , The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Source: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "That is the problem with governments these days. They want to do things all the time; they are always very busy thinkin…" by Alexander McCall Smith?

Alexander McCall Smith 55

British writer 1948

Shirley Jackson book The Haunting of Hill House

Source: The Haunting of Hill House

“I want to do one movie that if I die the next day, I know I left one thing in this world that I was very proud of, that other people can see, that meant something to me, that had my voice.”

Salma Hayek (1966) Mexican-American actress and producer

O interview (2003)
Context: I had been already trying to do Frida, but I would sit on my sorrows because it was so difficult. But now I was learning new things. And so I thought, this is what I want to do. I want to do one movie that if I die the next day, I know I left one thing in this world that I was very proud of, that other people can see, that meant something to me, that had my voice. Because God forbid I die tomorrow, I'm the bombshell for the rest of my existence. … Then I became very angry I said, I have become what they decided I am. When did I fall in this trap? Somebody decided I was this, and I became that. And I said, "I'm going to change it now. I'm going to define myself."

“We don't want support for scientific research just to keep scientists busy: we want scientists to be looked upon by the public as people who can do things for them that they can't do themselves.”

John Cunningham McLennan (1867–1935) Canadian physicist

as quoted by Gordon Shrum. In an article by Robert Craig Brown, The life of Sir John Cunningham McLennan http://www.physics.utoronto.ca/overview/history/mclennan, Physics in Canada, March / April 2000.

“What I intend to do is lead an investigation to find out what went right and what went wrong…. I think one of the things that people want us to do here is to play a blame game. We've got to solve problems. We're problem-solvers. There will be ample time for people to figure out what went right and what went wrong. What I'm interested in is helping save lives. That's what I want to do.”

George W. Bush (1946) 43rd President of the United States

Answering a question regarding Katrina aftermath and what went wrong with government response — September 6, 2005. http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050906.html
2000s, 2005