--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The modern state no longer has anything…" description: "\"The modern state no longer has anything but rights; it does not recognize duties any more.\" — Georges Bernanos" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/georges-bernanos-7838_modern_the-modern-state-no-longer-has-anything_2805345.jpg" --- # The modern state no longer has anything but rights; it… ![“The modern state no longer has anything but rights; it does not recognize duties any more.” quote by Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/georges-bernanos-7838_modern_the-modern-state-no-longer-has-anything_2805345.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/georges-bernanos-7838_modern_the-modern-state-no-longer-has-anything_2805345.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/georges-bernanos-7838_modern_the-modern-state-no-longer-has-anything_2805345.jpg) > “The modern state no longer has anything but rights; it does not recognize duties any more.” [Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The modern state emphasizes rights while neglecting duties, leading to moral imbalance. **In simple terms:** States focus on rights, forgetting responsibilities. Key Takeaway Promote civic duties alongside rights. Themes political theory ethics citizenship Mood concerned inspirational Type philosophical social When to use this quote - government policy - education curricula - community projects Key Concepts social contract civic responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance rights and duties? - What duties are essential for a healthy state? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on rights may erode social cohesion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Modern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern/) [Modern State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-state-498833/) [Recognize Duties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognize-duties-3479357/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-does-2360433/) [State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state/) ## Related quotes > [The Bill of Rights does not come from the people and is not subject to change by majorities. 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Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-weaver/) > [The modern State exists not to protect our rights but to do us good or make us good - anyway, to do something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-modern-state-exists-not-to-protect-our-rights-but-to-do-us-good/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [The essence of the modern state is that the universal be bound up with the complete freedom of its particular members and with private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-essence-of-the-modern-state-is-that-the-universal-be-bound-up/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [The modern state appeals to morality, to religion, and to natural law as the ideological foundation of its existence. At the same time it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee-2/the-modern-state-appeals-to-morality-to-religion-and-to-natural-law/) [J. M. 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Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-a-smith/) > [A state is absolute in the sense which I have in mind when it claims the right to a monopoly of all the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-state-is-absolute-in-the-sense-which-i-have-in-mind-when-it-claims/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The executive of the modern state is but a committee for managing the common affairs of the whole bourgeoisie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-executive-of-the-modern-state-is-but-a-committee-for-managing-the/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [“...the modern State's greatest single instrument of oppression, its murderous tax on drink...accounts for nearly all the miseries besetting our once-merry land; football hooliganism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auberon-waugh/the-modern-state-s-greatest-single-instrument-of-oppression-its/) [Auberon Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auberon-waugh/) ## More by Georges Bernanos > [Fact is Our Lord knew all about the power of money: He gave capitalism a tiny niche in His scheme of things, He gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-bernanos/fact-is-our-lord-knew-all-about-the-power-of-money-he-gave-capitalism/) [Georges Bernanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-bernanos/) > [I know the compassion of others is a relief at first. I don't despise it. 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