Example Quote by Elbert Hubbard
“So long as governments set the example of killing their enemies, private individuals will occasionally kill theirs.”
About This Quote
When state actors legitimize lethal force, it normalizes violence among citizens, leading to personal acts of killing.
In simple terms: State-sanctioned killing breeds civilian violence.
Key Takeaway
Violence beends when authority models it.
Themes
Power and authority
Moral modeling
Violence normalization
Individual agency
Ethics of killing
Mood
cautious
critical
reflective
Type
aphilosophical
political
moral
When to use this quote
- Political unrest
- War zones
- Authoritarian regimes
- Civil rights movements
- Community self-defense
Key Concepts
State legitimacy
Moral contagion
Civilian violence
Authority influence
Practical Applications
- Policy analysis on state violence
- Educational curricula on ethics of force
Questions to Reflect On
- How does governmental use of force affect societal norms?
- Can individuals resist violent modeling by authorities?
![“The way things are supposed to work is that we're supposed to know virtually everything about what they [the government] do: that's why they're called public servants. They're supposed to know virtually nothing about what we do: that's why we're called private individuals.” quote by Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/64d/glenn-greenwald-1215_government_the-way-things-are-supposed-to-work-is-t_1685050.jpg)
