--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Arbitrary rule has its basis, not in the…" description: "\"Arbitrary rule has its basis, not in the strength of the state or the chief, but in the moral weakness of the individual, who submits almost without re..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caf/friedrich-ratzel-107571_arbitrary_arbitrary-rule-has-its-basis-not-in-the_1430616.png" --- # Arbitrary rule has its basis, not in the strength of the… ![“Arbitrary rule has its basis, not in the strength of the state or the chief, but in the moral weakness of the individual, who submits almost without resistance to the domineering power.” quote by Friedrich Ratzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caf/friedrich-ratzel-107571_arbitrary_arbitrary-rule-has-its-basis-not-in-the_1430616.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caf/friedrich-ratzel-107571_arbitrary_arbitrary-rule-has-its-basis-not-in-the_1430616.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caf/friedrich-ratzel-107571_arbitrary_arbitrary-rule-has-its-basis-not-in-the_1430616.png) > “Arbitrary rule has its basis, not in the strength of the state or the chief, but in the moral weakness of the individual, who submits almost without resistance to the domineering power.” Friedrich Ratzel ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Arbitrary rules stem from individual moral weakness, not state strength, leading to passive submission. **In simple terms:** Weak individuals enable arbitrary authority. Key Takeaway Strengthen personal morals to resist oppression. Themes authority morality individual submission power dynamics Mood analytical serious concerned Type Arbitrary:1 Bases:0 Chiefs:0 Democracy:0 Freedom:0 Individual:1 Moral:1 Power:0 Resistance:0 Revolution:0 States:0 Submit:0 Weakness:0 Moral Weakness:0 Chief Moral:0 Arbitrary Rule:0 Domineering Power:0 Weakness Individual:0 When to use this quote - governance - activism - personal development Key Concepts political theory ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - What strengthens personal moral resolve? - How to challenge arbitrary power? A Different Perspective Resistance may be suppressed by fear. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chiefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chiefs/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resistance/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) ## Related quotes > [By giving the government unlimited powers, the most arbitrary rule can be made legal; and in this way a democracy may set up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/by-giving-the-government-unlimited-powers-the-most-arbitrary-rule-can/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) > [ Fascism is \[...\] arbitrary rule by a charismatic head of state. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibor-r-machan/fascism-is-arbitrary-rule-by-a-charismatic-head-of-state/) [Tibor R. Machan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tibor-r-machan/) > [A state that denies its citizens their basic rights becomes a danger to its neighbors as well: internal arbitrary rule will be reflected in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/a-state-that-denies-its-citizens-their-basic-rights-becomes-a-danger/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Man's chief moral deficiency appears to be not his indiscretions but his reticence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/man-s-chief-moral-deficiency-appears-to-be-not-his-indiscretions-but/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [The Bible is the chief moral cause of all that is good and the best corrector of all that is evil in human society;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/the-bible-is-the-chief-moral-cause-of-all-that-is-good-and-the-best/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Freedom is the emancipation from the arbitrary rule of other men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-adler/freedom-is-the-emancipation-from-the-arbitrary-rule-of-other-men/) [Mortimer Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-adler/) > [There is always a certain glamour about the idea of a nation rising up to crush an evil simply because it is wrong. 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Any county's moral strength, or its moral weakness, is quickly measurable by the street attire and attitude of its women - especially its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/any-county-s-moral-strength-or-its-moral-weakness-is-quickly/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“difficulty is not lack of knowledge, but moral weakness. If you love Jesus with a pure heart, you will know where He feeds His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wurmbrand/difficulty-is-not-lack-of-knowledge-but-moral-weakness-if-you-love/) [Richard Wurmbrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wurmbrand/) ## More by Friedrich Ratzel > [A philosophy of the history of the human race, worthy of its name, must begin with the heavens and descend to the earth, must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-ratzel/a-philosophy-of-the-history-of-the-human-race-worthy-of-its-name-must/) Friedrich Ratzel Explore all 2 Friedrich Ratzel quotes ## More Arbitrary quotes > [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. 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