Common enemy Quote by Albert Jay Nock
““Instead of recognizing the State as “the common enemy of all well-disposed, industrious and decent men,” the run of mankind, with rare exceptions, regards it not only as a final and indispensable entity, but also as, in the main, beneficent.””
About This Quote
The passage critiques the tendency to view the state not as an adversary but as an essential, benevolent institution, highlighting a shift from suspicion to reverence.
In simple terms: State seen as necessary and kind.
Key Takeaway
State often idealized beyond its flaws.
Themes
political philosophy
state power
social contract
human nature
skepticism
Mood
critical
reflective
cynical
Type
philosophical
political
critical
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- civic education
- policy analysis
- historical critique
Key Concepts
authority
public perception
individual liberty
Practical Applications
- critical essays
- debates on governance
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do societies tend to sanctify the state?
- What are the risks of uncritical acceptance of governmental authority?
![“It [the State] has taken on a vast mass of new duties and responsibilities; it has spread out its powers until they penetrate to every act of the citizen, however secret; it has begun to throw around its operations the high dignity and impeccability of a State religion; its agents become a…” quote by H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c4a/h-l-mencken-245_agents_it-the-state-has-taken-on-a-vast-mass-of_717956.jpg)
![“All the power [the State] has is what society gives it, plus what it confiscates from time to time on one pretext or another; there is no other source from which State power can be drawn. Therefore every assumption of State power, whether by gift or seizure, leaves society with so much less power.” quote by Albert Jay Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a77/albert-jay-nock-45459_power_all-the-power-the-state-has-is-what-soci_2572716.jpg)
