Evil Quote by Hannah Arendt
“the fateful equating of power with violence, of the political with government, and of government with a necessary evil has begun.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Human Condition, 1958
Equating power with violence, politics with government, and government with evil leads to dangerous normalization of oppression.
In simple terms: Linking power to violence normalizes oppression.
Question the relationship between power and violence.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- political theory
- activism
- education
- policy making
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this view change your perception of authority?
- Can power exist ethically without violence?
Power can be exercised without violence; not all government is inherently evil.