We have said that the State must not absorb the individual…
“We have said that the State must not absorb the individual or the family; both should be allowed free and untrammelled action so far as is consistent with the common good and the interest of others. Rulers should, nevertheless, anxiously safeguard the community and all its members; the community, because the conservation thereof is so emphatically the business of the supreme power, that the safety of the commonwealth is not only the first law, but it is a government's whole reason of existence…”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The state should protect individuals and families while allowing freedom, balancing personal liberty with the common good.
In simple terms: Balance freedom with societal responsibility.
Key Takeaway
Promote policies that safeguard both liberty and community welfare.
Themes
politics
individual rights
common good
government responsibility
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- legislative drafting
- community planning
- social services
- education reform
Key Concepts
social contract
public welfare
ethical governance
Questions to Reflect On
- How should governments prioritize personal liberty versus societal welfare?
- What mechanisms can ensure both are protected?
A Different Perspective
Tensions arise when individual freedoms conflict with collective needs.