--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The civilization of a state should be…" description: "\"The civilization of a state should be measured by the amount of suffering it prevents and the degree of happiness it makes possible for its citizens.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/helen-keller-429_amount_the-civilization-of-a-state-should-be-me_1698287.png" --- # The civilization of a state should be measured by the… ![“The civilization of a state should be measured by the amount of suffering it prevents and the degree of happiness it makes possible for its citizens.” quote by Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/helen-keller-429_amount_the-civilization-of-a-state-should-be-me_1698287.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/helen-keller-429_amount_the-civilization-of-a-state-should-be-me_1698287.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb3/helen-keller-429_amount_the-civilization-of-a-state-should-be-me_1698287.png) > “The civilization of a state should be measured by the amount of suffering it prevents and the degree of happiness it makes possible for its citizens.” [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A state's civilization is judged by how much suffering it alleviates and happiness it creates for its people. **In simple terms:** Civilization = reducing suffering, increasing happiness. Key Takeaway Promote welfare. Themes ethics human rights governance Mood hopeful inspirational Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - community building - healthcare - education Key Concepts utilitarianism social contract Questions to Reflect On - How can we quantify happiness? - What policies best reduce suffering? A Different Perspective Measuring happiness is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [The power of the state is measured by the power that men surrender to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-morley/the-power-of-the-state-is-measured-by-the-power-that-men-surrender-to/) [Felix Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-morley/) > [“It is not easy to get rid of weeds; but it is easy, by a process of neglect, to ruin your food crops and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/it-is-not-easy-to-get-rid-of-weeds-but-it-is-easy-by-a-process-of/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [This is the gravest danger that today threatens civilization: State intervention; the absorption of all spontaneous social effort by the State, that is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/this-is-the-gravest-danger-that-today-threatens-civilization-state/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [Western Civilization has been in a state of decline since the Edwardian age, say 1910. 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