Augustine Quote by Christopher Dawson
“The moment that the state came into conflict with the higher power, the moment that it set itself up as an end in itself, it became identified with Augustine's earthly city and lost all claims to a higher sanction than the law of force and self-interest. Without justice, what is a great kingdom but a great robbery, magnum latrocinium?”
About This Quote
Source Book: The City of God, 1948
The quote argues that when a state seeks power for its own sake, it becomes worldly and loses moral authority, reducing it to mere force and self‑interest.
In simple terms: Power‑driven states become corrupt and lose higher purpose.
Key Takeaway
Avoid power for power’s sake.
Themes
politics
ethics
authority
philosophy
society
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
theoretical
When to use this quote
- government policy
- legal reform
- civic education
- ethical leadership
Key Concepts
state legitimacy
moral authority
political philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can a state maintain moral legitimacy?
- What safeguards prevent power from becoming self‑serving?
A Different Perspective
Power can be necessary for order; not all state power is corrupt.
![“Again, I hear almost everyday from atheists who write off religion as primitive, premodern nonsense. I summon Aquinas, Augustine, Paul [of Tarsus], Teresa of Avila, Joseph Ratzinger, and Edith Stein-in all their intellectual rigor-as allies in the the struggle against this dismissive atheism.” quote by Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/86d/robert-barron-13186_allies_again-i-hear-almost-everyday-from-atheis_35728.jpg)
