I regard the state of which I am a citizen as a public…
“I regard the state of which I am a citizen as a public utility, like the organization that supplies me with water, gas, and electricity. I feel that it is my civic duty to pay my taxes as well as my other bills, and that it is my moral duty to make an honest declaration of my income to the income tax authorities. But I do not feel that I and my fellow citizens have a religious duty to sacrifice our lives in war on behalf of our own state, and, a fortiori, I do not feel that we have an obligation or a right to kill and maim citizens of other states or to devastate their land.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The author likens citizenship to a utility service, emphasizing taxpay as a civic duty while rejecting war as a moral obligation.
In simple terms: Citizenship is a service; pay taxes, but war isn’t a duty.
Key Takeaway
Separate civic responsibilities from military obligations.
Themes
civic duty
taxation
war
morality
public utility
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- government policy
- public finance
- peace activism
- international law
Key Concepts
social contract
ethical responsibility
state sovereignty
Questions to Reflect On
- Should citizens support defense measures?
- How do we balance moral objections with national safety?
A Different Perspective
The view may overlook collective security needs.