--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Words like “Society” and “State” are so…" description: "\"“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 t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/c-g-jung-2163_community_words-like-society-and-state-are-so-conc_796621.jpg" --- # Words like “Society” and “State” are so concretized that… ![“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…” quote by C.G. Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/c-g-jung-2163_community_words-like-society-and-state-are-so-conc_796621.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/c-g-jung-2163_community_words-like-society-and-state-are-so-conc_796621.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/c-g-jung-2163_community_words-like-society-and-state-are-so-conc_796621.jpg) > ““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.”” [C.G. Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-g-jung/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Like Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-society-1238217/) [Personified Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personified-opinion-6108281/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Society State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society-state-807888/) [Street State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/street-state-6108282/) ## Related quotes > [Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best stage, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/society-in-every-state-is-a-blessing-but-government-even-in-its-best/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The real thing we tried to look at is what happens to a society when the state is absent. 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