Deities Quote by Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
“As high as mind stands above nature, so high does the state stand above physical life. Man must therefore venerate the state as a secular deity. The march of God in the world, that is what the State is.”
About This Quote
Source Philosophy: Hegel's "Philosophy of Right", 1820
The state is elevated above nature and life, treated as a secular deity, reflecting divine order in worldly governance.
In simple terms: State is supreme, like a secular god.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the state's profound influence.
Themes
politics
philosophy
state
secularism
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- government policy
- civic education
- legal theory
Key Concepts
authority
divinity
social order
metaphysics
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the limits of state authority?
- How does secular reverence for the state affect democracy?
A Different Perspective
Elevating the state may suppress individual freedoms.
![“It has been said that the French revolution resulted from philosophy, and it is not without reason that philosophy has been called Weltweisheit [world wisdom]; for it is not only truth in and for itself, as the pure essence of things, but also truth in its living form as exhibited in the affairs…” quote by Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/906/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel_french-revolution_it-has-been-said-that-the-french-revolut_297624.jpg)
