Israel Quote by Helmut Walser Smith
““In 1900, imperial Germany safeguarded the rule of law and ensured the protection of its citizens, including Jews. Four decades later, the Third Reich attempted to annihilate the Jews and, as an occupying power in the Polish village of Jedwabne, encouraged violence. In this Hobbesian perspective, the state remains the only barrier between us and the hatchets of our neighbors, and, as a corollary, in 1900 only the Prussian army saved the Jews of Konitz from the clubs and axes of “ordinary Germans.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Holocaust and the Historians, 1998
The quote argues that a strong state can protect minorities, but when that state becomes hostile, it enables persecution.
In simple terms: State power can protect or threaten minorities.
Key Takeaway
Ensure institutions uphold law for all.
Themes
law
state power
minority protection
history
ethics
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
analytical
historical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- legal reform
- education on history
- civil society vigilance
Key Concepts
social contract
state legitimacy
human rights
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies safeguard against state abuse?
- What mechanisms ensure state accountability?
A Different Perspective
Assumes all states act uniformly; power can be abused.
![“There was a real choice when [Barack Obama] became president. It was a very difficult choice - to say, "We're not going to hold senior officials to account with the same laws that every other citizen in the country is held to," or "This is a nation that believes in the rule of law."” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/104/edward-snowden-555_accounts_there-was-a-real-choice-when-barack-obam_27838.jpg)
![“[Islam] Leaves no room of human legislation in an Islamic state, because herein all legislative functions vest in God and the only function left for Muslims lies in their observance of the God-made law.” quote by Abul A'la Maududi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/704/abul-a-la-maududi-51903_function_islam-leaves-no-room-of-human-legislatio_886.jpg)
