The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”

Reagan used this line repeatedly in the early 1980s as a signature expression of his small-government philosophy, warning that well-intended federal programs can expand bureaucracy, reduce personal responsibility, and produce unintended harms. It is most closely associated with his remarks to the annual convention of the National Association of Evangelicals in Orlando, Florida, during his first term, when he was promoting tax cuts, deregulation, and a general rollback of federal intervention in domestic life. The quip also circulated in his radio addresses and speeches as a memorable, humorous encapsulation of conservative skepticism toward government solutions.

The joke hinges on inversion: “help” is normally reassuring, but paired with “the government” it becomes ominous. Reagan’s point is not that all public action is malicious, but that centralized power often arrives with coercion, red tape, and one-size-fits-all policies that can worsen the problems they aim to solve. The line distills a broader ideological claim: liberty and prosperity are better protected by limiting state reach and trusting civil society, markets, and local initiative. Its enduring popularity comes from its punchy rhythm and its ability to frame policy debates as a choice between individual autonomy and bureaucratic overreach.

1) “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.”
2) “The most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”
3) “The scariest words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”