Creation Quote by Emma Goldman
“The State has no more existence than gods and devils have. They are equally the reflex and creation of man, for man, the individual, is the only reality. The State is but the shadow of man, the shadow of his opaqueness, of his ignorance and fear.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Anarchist Manifesto, 1910
The State is a human construct, reflecting our fears and ignorance, not an independent reality.
In simple terms: The State is man-made and reflects our flaws.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the State as a reflection of humanity.
Themes
politics
philosophy
human nature
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- activism
- policy analysis
- education
- community organizing
Key Concepts
anarchism
social construct
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- What aspects of the State reflect collective values?
- How can individuals influence state structures?
A Different Perspective
The State can also provide order and security for some.
![“Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this [step by step, from humans to apes to monkeys to lemurs] - leading us insensibly from the crown and summit of the animal creation down to creatures, from which there is but a step, as it seems, to the…” quote by Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0b/thomas-huxley-1183_animal_perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us_3051.jpg)
