--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The recently ended twentieth century was…" description: "\"The recently ended twentieth century was characterized by a level of human rights violations unparalleled in all of human history. In his book Death by..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/hans-hermann-hoppe-16076_book_the-recently-ended-twentieth-century-was_1702083.jpg" --- # The recently ended twentieth century was characterized by… ![“The recently ended twentieth century was characterized by a level of human rights violations unparalleled in all of human history. In his book Death by Government, Rudolph Rummel estimates some 170 million government-caused deaths in the twentieth century. The historical evidence appears to…” quote by Hans-Hermann Hoppe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/hans-hermann-hoppe-16076_book_the-recently-ended-twentieth-century-was_1702083.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/hans-hermann-hoppe-16076_book_the-recently-ended-twentieth-century-was_1702083.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/286/hans-hermann-hoppe-16076_book_the-recently-ended-twentieth-century-was_1702083.jpg) > “The recently ended twentieth century was characterized by a level of human rights violations unparalleled in all of human history. In his book Death by Government, Rudolph Rummel estimates some 170 million government-caused deaths in the twentieth century. The historical evidence appears to indicate that, rather than protecting life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness of their citizens, governments must be considered the greatest threat to human security.” [Hans-Hermann Hoppe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hermann-hoppe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Governments have historically caused massive loss of life, often outweighing their protective role, making them a primary threat to human security. **In simple terms:** Governments can be more harmful than protective. Key Takeaway Question authority and protect rights. Themes politics human rights government power Mood critical analytical Type political historical When to use this quote - policy analysis - human rights advocacy - education - public discourse Key Concepts state violence security freedom Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can limit government abuse? - How do we balance security and liberty? A Different Perspective The claim may overlook beneficial government actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Human history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-history/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Pursuit of happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit-of-happiness/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rudolph/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) [Twentieth century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twentieth-century/) [Violation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violation/) ## Related quotes > [“During the second half of the twentieth century this Law of the Jungle has finally been broken, if not rescinded. 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The Declaration of Independence states that every human being has a right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-epstein/america-was-founded-on-the-principle-of-inalienable-rights-not/) [Alex Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-epstein/) > [A human life is defined by its relationship with others: by its duty to its species. 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The masses everywhere are ignorant, short-sighted, motivated by envy, and easy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hermann-hoppe/what-is-true-just-and-beautiful-is-not-determined-by-popular-vote-the/) [Hans-Hermann Hoppe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hermann-hoppe/) > [The state spends much time and effort persuading the public that it is not really what it is and that the consequences of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hermann-hoppe/the-state-spends-much-time-and-effort-persuading-the-public-that-it/) [Hans-Hermann Hoppe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hermann-hoppe/) > [Thanks to the central bank, most ‘monetary experts’ and ‘leading macro-economists’ can, by putting them on the payroll, be turned into government propagandists ‘explaining,’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hermann-hoppe/thanks-to-the-central-bank-most-monetary-experts-and-leading-macro/) [Hans-Hermann Hoppe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hermann-hoppe/) > [Private property implies exclusivity, inequality, and difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hermann-hoppe/private-property-implies-exclusivity-inequality-and-difference/) [Hans-Hermann Hoppe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hermann-hoppe/) > [“if the power of government rests on the widespread acceptance of false indeed absurd and foolish ideas, then the only genuine protection is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hermann-hoppe/if-the-power-of-government-rests-on-the-widespread-acceptance-of/) [Hans-Hermann Hoppe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hermann-hoppe/) > [With the socialization of the health care system through institutions such as Medicaid and Medicare and the regulation of the insurance industry (by restricting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hermann-hoppe/with-the-socialization-of-the-health-care-system-through-institutions/) [Hans-Hermann Hoppe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hermann-hoppe/) [Explore all 41 Hans-Hermann Hoppe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hermann-hoppe/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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