--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But which is the State's essential…" description: "\"But which is the State's essential function, aggression or defence, few seem to know or care.\" — Benjamin Tucker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/benjamin-tucker-9951_aggression_but-which-is-the-state-s-essential-funct_2148814.png" --- # But which is the State's essential function, aggression or… ![“But which is the State's essential function, aggression or defence, few seem to know or care.” quote by Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/benjamin-tucker-9951_aggression_but-which-is-the-state-s-essential-funct_2148814.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/benjamin-tucker-9951_aggression_but-which-is-the-state-s-essential-funct_2148814.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/benjamin-tucker-9951_aggression_but-which-is-the-state-s-essential-funct_2148814.png) > “But which is the State's essential function, aggression or defence, few seem to know or care.” [Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The core purpose of government is debated, with aggression and defense both being considered. **In simple terms:** Government purpose is unclear. Key Takeaway Question the true role of authority. Themes politics government philosophy Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - legislative debates - civil protests - policy making - community organizing Key Concepts anarchism state theory public policy Questions to Reflect On - What does aggression mean in governance? - Can defense be truly separate from aggression? A Different Perspective Aggression may be inherent in state actions; not purely defensive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aggression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggression/) [Aggression Defence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggression-defence-4508466/) [Aquariums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aquariums/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Defence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defence/) [Defence Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defence-know-4508467/) [Essentials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essentials/) [Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function/) [Function Aggression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function-aggression-4508465/) [State Essential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-essential-4508468/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) ## Related quotes > [Defence was an afterthought, prompted by necessity; and its introduction as a State function, though effected doubtless with a view to the strengthening of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-tucker/defence-was-an-afterthought-prompted-by-necessity-and-its/) [Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/) > [So I went in to a pet shop. 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We can go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/and-when-you-come-back-to-japan-next-summer-let-s-have-that-date-or/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I wanted to get rid of the element that had been considered essential in pop music: the voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-wanted-to-get-rid-of-the-element-that-had-been-considered-essential/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [I am like the fish in the aquarium, thinking in a different language, adapting to a life that’s not my natural habitat. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-am-like-the-fish-in-the-aquarium-thinking-in-a-different-language/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [And it is essential that in fighting terrorism, sacrifices should not be made on democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bulent-ecevit/and-it-is-essential-that-in-fighting-terrorism-sacrifices-should-not/) [Bulent Ecevit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bulent-ecevit/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) ## More by Benjamin Tucker > [The claim of the State Socialists, however, that this right would not be exercised in matters pertaining to the individual in the more intimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-tucker/the-claim-of-the-state-socialists-however-that-this-right-would-not/) [Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/) > [The shortest way to change a radical into a conservative, a liberal into a tyrant, a man into a beast, is to give him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-tucker/the-shortest-way-to-change-a-radical-into-a-conservative-a-liberal/) [Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/) > [The Anarchists are simply unterrified Jeffersonian Democrats. They believe that 'the best government is that which governs least,' and that which governs least is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-tucker/the-anarchists-are-simply-unterrified-jeffersonian-democrats-they/) [Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/) > [Socialism, on the contrary, extends its function to the description of society as it should be, and the discovery of the means of making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-tucker/socialism-on-the-contrary-extends-its-function-to-the-description-of/) [Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/) > [We are here, on earth. 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Anarchy is the mother of co-operation, yes, just as liberty is the mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-tucker/anarchism-is-for-liberty-and-neither-for-nor-against-anything-else/) [Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/) [Explore all 69 Benjamin Tucker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/) ## More Aggression quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I used to fight with hate. There's been a lot of aggression in my past growing up and stuff. 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You will be able to find the mystery of life only if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/that-which-is-of-great-value-cannot-be-attained-through-aggression/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [A society that presumes a norm of violence and celebrates aggression, whether in the subway, on the football field, or in the conduct of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-h-lapham/a-society-that-presumes-a-norm-of-violence-and-celebrates-aggression/) [Lewis H. 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