“Government, even in its best state, is an evil; but, in its worst state, a necessary one.”
What this quote means
William Godwin's quote expresses a paradox: government, even in its best state, is an evil, but in its worst state, it is necessary. It resonates because it acknowledges the inherent flaws in any form of power while admitting that without it, chaos might reign. It applies in our thinking about politics, urging us to demand that governments be as least bad as possible while remaining aware of their limitations.
How to apply it daily
Educate yourself about a current political decision. Reflect on its pros and cons, then express your opinion constructively, for example by writing to an elected official.
Continue
Related quotes
Same author or same theme — keep reading.
“Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”Create visual
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.”Create visual
“The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win.”Create visual
“War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other's children.”Create visual
“The end may justify the means as long as there is something that justifies the end.”Create visual
“Insurrection is an art, and like all arts, it has its laws.”Create visual