Government Quote by Ed Crane
“Government is not peaceful; it is inherently coercive.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Nature of Government, 1998
Government inherently uses force to maintain order, rather than existing as a peaceful entity.
In simple terms: Government is fundamentally coercive.
Key Takeaway
Question authority’s role.
Themes
politics
power
coercion
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- civic engagement
- activism
Key Concepts
social contract
state legitimacy
Questions to Reflect On
- Is all authority unjust?
- When does coercion become protection?
A Different Perspective
It overlooks beneficial functions of governance.
![“Some who support [more] coercive strategies assume that children will run wild if they are not controlled. However, the children for whom this is true typically turn out to be those accustomed to being controlled— those who are not trusted, given explanations, encouraged to think for themselves…” quote by Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8de/alfie-kohn-7728_assuming_some-who-support-more-coercive-strategie_1697882.jpg)
![“[T]here are, at bottom, basically two ways to order social affairs, Coercively, through the mechanisms of the state - what we can call political society. And voluntarily, through the private interaction of individuals and associations - what we can call civil society. ... In a civil society, you…” quote by Ed Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b8b/ed-crane-39299_affair_t-here-are-at-bottom-basically-two-ways_34431.jpg)
