Acquire Quote by Anonymous
“For extending its sway, partly by force of arms, partly by the voluntary submission of weaker tribes, the community soon acquires wealth and slaves, both of which, by relieving some classes from the perpetual struggle for a bare subsistence, afford them an opportunity of devoting themselves to that disinterested pursuit of knowledge which is the noblest and most powerful instrument to ameliorate the lot of man.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: Unknown political analysis, 19th century
Power expands through conquest and coercion, yet also through the willing subjugation of weaker groups, allowing elites to gain wealth and slaves, which frees some classes from basic survival struggles and lets them pursue knowledge, a noble tool for improving humanity's condition.
In simple terms: Power can free some from survival to seek knowledge for humanity's benefit.
Key Takeaway
Use gained resources to support education.
Themes
power
knowledge
social hierarchy
freedom
inequality
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
philosophical
historical
When to use this quote
- colonial expansion
- elite education
- social mobility
- resource allocation
Key Concepts
political theory
economic exploitation
intellectual pursuit
Questions to Reflect On
- How does reliance on exploitation affect the pursuit of knowledge?
- Can true progress arise from unjust foundations?
A Different Perspective
Wealth and slaves may also entrench oppression, limiting true freedom for many.
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
