Community Quote by C.G. Jung
““Words like “Society” and “State” are so concretized that they are almost personified. In the opinion of the man in the street, the “State,” far more than any king in history, is the inexhaustible giver of all good; the “State” is invoked, made responsible, grumbled at, and so on and so forth. Society is elevated to the rank of a supreme ethical principle; indeed, it is even credited with positively creative capacities.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Psychological Types, Carl Gustav Jung, 1921
Society and State are treated as living entities that people attribute moral power to, often beyond their actual influence.
In simple terms: People personify institutions as sources of good and moral authority.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the limits of institutional authority.
Themes
politics
philosophy
social theory
ethics
identity
Mood
critical
analytical
thoughtful
Type
theoretical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- public policy debates
- community organizing
- educational curricula
- media analysis
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
collective consciousness
symbolic representation
authority
mythmaking
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate personal moral agency from institutional influence?
- What are the risks of elevating abstract concepts to supreme ethical status?
A Different Perspective
These abstractions can obscure individual responsibility and agency.
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