--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A State divided into a small number of…" description: "\"A State divided into a small number of rich and a large number of poor will always develop a government manipulated by the rich to protect the amenitie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/454/harold-laski-30931_amenities_a-state-divided-into-a-small-number-of-r_178999.png" --- # A State divided into a small number of rich and a large… ![“A State divided into a small number of rich and a large number of poor will always develop a government manipulated by the rich to protect the amenities represented by their property.” quote by Harold Laski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/454/harold-laski-30931_amenities_a-state-divided-into-a-small-number-of-r_178999.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/454/harold-laski-30931_amenities_a-state-divided-into-a-small-number-of-r_178999.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/454/harold-laski-30931_amenities_a-state-divided-into-a-small-number-of-r_178999.png) > “A State divided into a small number of rich and a large number of poor will always develop a government manipulated by the rich to protect the amenities represented by their property.” [Harold Laski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-laski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A society with few rich and many poor inevitably yields a government serving the rich’s interests. **In simple terms:** Wealth disparity leads to elite‑controlled governance. Key Takeaway Address wealth inequality to protect democracy. Themes politics wealth power dynamics Mood critical urgent Type political analytical When to use this quote - voting reforms - progressive taxation - grassroots activism Key Concepts oligarchy social stratification policy capture Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms can prevent elite capture? - How can citizens empower marginalized groups? A Different Perspective Change is resisted by entrenched interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Inequality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequality/) [Large numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/large-numbers/) [Manipulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manipulation/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Small numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-numbers/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [“In a popular state the inhabitants are divided into certain classes,” Montesquieu affirmed in a Marxian manner a century before Marx! So, the popular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todor-bombov/in-a-popular-state-the-inhabitants-are-divided-into-certain-classes/) [Todor Bombov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todor-bombov/) > [For some reason I seem to absorb the landscape and cultures where I am planted. A State Divided Symphony was inspired by the 150th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-harbach/for-some-reason-i-seem-to-absorb-the-landscape-and-cultures-where-i/) [Barbara Harbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-harbach/) > [There has never been just 'coach class' health care, but with these amenities you are seeing people get priorities according to your ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-caplan/there-has-never-been-just-coach-class-health-care-but-with-these/) [Arthur Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-caplan/) > [How many roads must a developer walk down, before they accept the amenities package?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/how-many-roads-must-a-developer-walk-down-before-they-accept-the/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [People talk about wanting amenities - downtown is the amenity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-white/people-talk-about-wanting-amenities-downtown-is-the-amenity/) [Jack White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-white/) > [The real potential of electricity lies not in providing social amenities but in stimulating long-term economic development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-flavin/the-real-potential-of-electricity-lies-not-in-providing-social/) [Christopher Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-flavin/) > [The ergometer simulates the physical demands of rowing, packaging the pains with none of the amenities that make it worthwhile ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-kieszling/the-ergometer-simulates-the-physical-demands-of-rowing-packaging-the/) [Stefan Kieszling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-kieszling/) > [Low income is related to poorer housing, poorer diet, fewer social amenities, worse working conditions. (...) After adjustment for age, sex, race, smoking, alcohol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marmot/low-income-is-related-to-poorer-housing-poorer-diet-fewer-social/) [Michael Marmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marmot/) > [Mammoth is an incredible community and world-class attraction, ... Were committed to creating a vibrant living experience that matches the natural, majestic beauty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/puff-daddy/mammoth-is-an-incredible-community-and-world-class-attraction-were/) [Puff Daddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/puff-daddy/) > [... if a person is to be unconventional, he must be amusing or he is intolerable: for, in the nature of the case, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-fullerton-gerould/if-a-person-is-to-be-unconventional-he-must-be-amusing-or-he-is/) [Katharine Fullerton Gerould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-fullerton-gerould/) > [The definitions of humanism are many, but let us here take it to be the attitude of those men who think it an advantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/the-definitions-of-humanism-are-many-but-let-us-here-take-it-to-be/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) > [No discovery of mine has made, or is likely to make, directly or indirectly, for good or ill, the least difference to the amenity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/no-discovery-of-mine-has-made-or-is-likely-to-make-directly-or/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [Conversation in its happiest development is a link, equally exquisite and adequate, between mind and mind, a system by which men approach one another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/conversation-in-its-happiest-development-is-a-link-equally-exquisite/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [Criticism even should not be without its charms. When quite devoid of all amenities, it is no longer literary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/criticism-even-should-not-be-without-its-charms-when-quite-devoid-of/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [Our obsession with material things and lack of self-worth is evident in our need for an abundance of momentary luxuries and must-have amenities that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-i/our-obsession-with-material-things-and-lack-of-self-worth-is-evident/) T.I ## More by Harold Laski > [Aside from theology and sex there is really nothing to talk about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/aside-from-theology-and-sex-there-is-really-nothing-to-talk-about/) [Harold Laski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-laski/) > [“It is impossible to make peace with the Roman Catholic Church. It is one of the permanent enemies of all that is decent in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/it-is-impossible-to-make-peace-with-the-roman-catholic-church-it-is/) [Harold Laski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-laski/) > [If it weren't for the law, I would steal books; if it weren't for my purse, I would buy them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/if-it-weren-t-for-the-law-i-would-steal-books-if-it-weren-t-for-my/) [Harold Laski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-laski/) > [The only real security for social well-being is the free exercise of men's minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/the-only-real-security-for-social-well-being-is-the-free-exercise-of/) [Harold Laski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-laski/) > [Every State is known by the rights it maintains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/every-state-is-known-by-the-rights-it-maintains/) [Harold Laski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-laski/) > [The number of substitutes for fine and clean thinking the world provides positively gnaws at one's vitals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/the-number-of-substitutes-for-fine-and-clean-thinking-the-world/) [Harold Laski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-laski/) > [“Sir, the fact that the book is in a public library brings no comfort.Books are the one element in which I am personally and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/sir-the-fact-that-the-book-is-in-a-public-library-brings-no-comfort/) [Harold Laski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-laski/) > [No citizen enjoys genuine freedom of religious conviction until the state is indifferent to every form of religious outlook from Atheism to Zoroastrianism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/no-citizen-enjoys-genuine-freedom-of-religious-conviction-until-the/) [Harold Laski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-laski/) > [If there is one thing fundamental to the life of the spirit it is the absence of force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/if-there-is-one-thing-fundamental-to-the-life-of-the-spirit-it-is-the/) [Harold Laski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-laski/) > [A healthy loyalty is not passive and complacent, but active and critical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/a-healthy-loyalty-is-not-passive-and-complacent-but-active-and/) [Harold Laski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-laski/) > [Those who know the normal life of the poor... will realize well enough that without economic security, liberty is not worth having.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/those-who-know-the-normal-life-of-the-poor-will-realize-well-enough/) [Harold Laski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-laski/) > [A second-class mind dealing with third-class material is hardly a necessity of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/a-second-class-mind-dealing-with-third-class-material-is-hardly-a/) [Harold Laski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-laski/) > [Historically, means cannot be separated from ends ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/historically-means-cannot-be-separated-from-ends/) [Harold Laski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-laski/) > [It would be madness to let the purposes or the methods of private enterprise set the habits of the age of atomic energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/it-would-be-madness-to-let-the-purposes-or-the-methods-of-private/) [Harold Laski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-laski/) > [The test, surely, of a creed is not the ability of those who accept it to announce their faith; its test is its ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/the-test-surely-of-a-creed-is-not-the-ability-of-those-who-accept-it/) [Harold Laski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-laski/) [Explore all 17 Harold Laski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-laski/) ## More Amenities quotes > [Our obsession with material things and lack of self-worth is evident in our need for an abundance of momentary luxuries and must-have amenities that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-i/our-obsession-with-material-things-and-lack-of-self-worth-is-evident/) T.I > [Criticism even should not be without its charms. When quite devoid of all amenities, it is no longer literary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/criticism-even-should-not-be-without-its-charms-when-quite-devoid-of/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [Conversation in its happiest development is a link, equally exquisite and adequate, between mind and mind, a system by which men approach one another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/conversation-in-its-happiest-development-is-a-link-equally-exquisite/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [No discovery of mine has made, or is likely to make, directly or indirectly, for good or ill, the least difference to the amenity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-hardy/no-discovery-of-mine-has-made-or-is-likely-to-make-directly-or/) [G. H. Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-hardy/) > [The definitions of humanism are many, but let us here take it to be the attitude of those men who think it an advantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-trilling/the-definitions-of-humanism-are-many-but-let-us-here-take-it-to-be/) [Lionel Trilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-trilling/) > [... if a person is to be unconventional, he must be amusing or he is intolerable: for, in the nature of the case, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-fullerton-gerould/if-a-person-is-to-be-unconventional-he-must-be-amusing-or-he-is/) [Katharine Fullerton Gerould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-fullerton-gerould/) > [Mammoth is an incredible community and world-class attraction, ... Were committed to creating a vibrant living experience that matches the natural, majestic beauty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/puff-daddy/mammoth-is-an-incredible-community-and-world-class-attraction-were/) [Puff Daddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/puff-daddy/) > [Low income is related to poorer housing, poorer diet, fewer social amenities, worse working conditions. (...) After adjustment for age, sex, race, smoking, alcohol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marmot/low-income-is-related-to-poorer-housing-poorer-diet-fewer-social/) [Michael Marmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marmot/) > [The ergometer simulates the physical demands of rowing, packaging the pains with none of the amenities that make it worthwhile ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-kieszling/the-ergometer-simulates-the-physical-demands-of-rowing-packaging-the/) [Stefan Kieszling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-kieszling/) > [The real potential of electricity lies not in providing social amenities but in stimulating long-term economic development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-flavin/the-real-potential-of-electricity-lies-not-in-providing-social/) [Christopher Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-flavin/) > [People talk about wanting amenities - downtown is the amenity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-white/people-talk-about-wanting-amenities-downtown-is-the-amenity/) [Jack White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-white/) > [How many roads must a developer walk down, before they accept the amenities package?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/how-many-roads-must-a-developer-walk-down-before-they-accept-the/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [There has never been just 'coach class' health care, but with these amenities you are seeing people get priorities according to your ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-caplan/there-has-never-been-just-coach-class-health-care-but-with-these/) [Arthur Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-caplan/) > [I always say if the house I live in is comfortable, and I have all the amenities I need, then what more can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-allen/i-always-say-if-the-house-i-live-in-is-comfortable-and-i-have-all-the/) [Ray Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-allen/) > [There's precious little to say between day and dark, Perhaps a few words on the implacable will Of time sailing like a magic barque…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/there-s-precious-little-to-say-between-day-and-dark-perhaps-a-few/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) Browse all 41 Amenities quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A State divided into a small number of rich and a large number of poor will always develop a government manipulated by the rich to protect the amenities represented by their property.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harold Laski" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/a-state-divided-into-a-small-number-of-rich-and-a-large-number-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amenities" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/a-state-divided-into-a-small-number-of-rich-and-a-large-number-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/454/harold-laski-30931_amenities_a-state-divided-into-a-small-number-of-r_178999.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/454/harold-laski-30931_amenities_a-state-divided-into-a-small-number-of-r_178999.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/454/harold-laski-30931_amenities_a-state-divided-into-a-small-number-of-r_178999.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A State divided into a small number of rich and a large number of poor will always develop a government…” — Harold Laski", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Harold Laski", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-laski/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A State divided into a small...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/a-state-divided-into-a-small-number-of-rich-and-a-large-number-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-laski/a-state-divided-into-a-small-number-of-rich-and-a-large-number-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```