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Identity Quote by C.G. Jung

“Instead of the concrete individual, you have the names of organizations and, at the highest point, the abstract idea of the State as the principle of political reality. The moral responsibility of the individual is then inevitably replaced by the policy of the State (raison d’etat). Instead of…” quote by C.G. Jung
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““Instead of the concrete individual, you have the names of organizations and, at the highest point, the abstract idea of the State as the principle of political reality. The moral responsibility of the individual is then inevitably replaced by the policy of the State (raison d’etat). Instead of moral and mental differentiation of the individual, you have public welfare and the raising of the living standard. The goal and meaning of individual life (which is the only real life) no longer lie in the individual development but in the policy of the State, which is thrust upon the individual from outside and consists in the execution of an abstract idea which ultimately tends to attract all life to itself. The individual is increasingly deprived of the moral decision as to how he should live his own life, and instead is ruled, fed, clothed, and educated as a social unit, accommodated in the appropriate housing unit, and amused in accordance with the standards that give pleasure and satisfaction to the masses. The rulers, in their turn, are just as much social units as the ruled, and are distinguished only by the fact they are specialized mouthpieces of State doctrine. They do not need to be personalities capable of judgment, but thoroughgoing specialists who are unusable outside their line of business. State policy decides what shall be taught and studied.””

C.G. Jung

About This Quote

Source Book: The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious, Carl Jung, 1959

The quote critiques how modern societies prioritize the State and organizations over individual moral agency, turning people into cogs serving abstract policies rather than personal development.

In simple terms: Society replaces individual moral choice with state‑driven policies.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and protect personal autonomy.

Themes

individualism state power morality social control

Mood

critical reflective

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

  • education policy
  • urban planning
  • media consumption
  • public health initiatives

Key Concepts

collective unconscious political philosophy alienation

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does state policy shape your personal values?
  • Can individuals retain moral agency within large institutions?
A Different Perspective

State control can stifle creativity and critical thinking.

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