The supreme law of the State is self-preservation at any…
““The supreme law of the State is self-preservation at any cost. And since all States, ever since they came to exist upon the earth, have been condemned to perpetual struggle — a struggle against their own populations, whom they oppress and ruin, a struggle against all foreign States, every one of which can be strong only if the others are weak — and since the States cannot hold their own in this struggle unless they constantly keep on augmenting their power against their own subjects as well as against the neighborhood States — it follows that the supreme law of the State is the augmentation of its power to the detriment of internal liberty and external justice.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
States prioritize power growth, sacrificing liberty and justice both internally and externally.
In simple terms: Power drives state actions, harming freedom.
Key Takeaway
Question authority and seek equitable structures.
Themes
power
state
liberty
justice
Mood
critical
serious
Type
political
theoretical
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- activist organizing
- educational curricula
- public debates
Key Concepts
political theory
anarchism
Questions to Reflect On
- Can power be decentralized without chaos?
- What alternatives protect liberty while ensuring security?
A Different Perspective
Complex geopolitical realities may limit pure anarchist solutions.