Men are excessively ruthless and cruel not as a rule out…
““Men are excessively ruthless and cruel not as a rule out of malice but from outraged righteousness. How much more is this true of legally constituted states, invested with all this seeming moral authority of parliaments and congresses and courts of justice! The destructive capacity of an individual, however vicious, is small; of the state, however well-intentioned, almost limitless. Expand the state and the destructive capacity necessarily expands too. Collective righteousness is far more ungovernable than any individual pursuit of revenge. That was a point well understood by Woodrow Wilson, who warned: 'Once lead this people into war and they'll forget there ever was such a thing as tolerance.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
State power amplifies moral authority, making collective actions far more destructive than individual ones, especially when justified by a sense of righteousness.
In simple terms: States can cause huge harm when they think they're righteous.
Key Takeaway
Beware unchecked state power.
Themes
politics
power
morality
war
collective responsibility
Mood
cautious
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- government policy
- military intervention
- legislative decisions
- civil rights debates
- international relations
Key Concepts
authoritarianism
moral hazard
state violence
Questions to Reflect On
- How does collective righteousness differ from individual revenge?
- What safeguards can limit state overreach?
A Different Perspective
Even well‑intentioned states can become tyrannical if not restrained.