--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The state incurs debts for politics, war…" description: "\"The state incurs debts for politics, war, and other higher causes and 'progress'. . . . The assumption is that the future will honour this relationship..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a75/jacob-burckhardt-27446_assumption_the-state-incurs-debts-for-politics-war_2081222.jpg" --- # The state incurs debts for politics, war, and other higher… ![“The state incurs debts for politics, war, and other higher causes and 'progress'. . . . The assumption is that the future will honour this relationship in perpetuity. The state has learned from the merchants and industrialists how to exploit credit; it defies the nation ever to let it go into…” quote by Jacob Burckhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a75/jacob-burckhardt-27446_assumption_the-state-incurs-debts-for-politics-war_2081222.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a75/jacob-burckhardt-27446_assumption_the-state-incurs-debts-for-politics-war_2081222.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a75/jacob-burckhardt-27446_assumption_the-state-incurs-debts-for-politics-war_2081222.jpg) > “The state incurs debts for politics, war, and other higher causes and 'progress'. . . . The assumption is that the future will honour this relationship in perpetuity. The state has learned from the merchants and industrialists how to exploit credit; it defies the nation ever to let it go into bankruptcy. Alongside all swindlers the state now stands there as swindler-in-chief.” [Jacob Burckhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-burckhardt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The state repeatedly borrows to fund political and military ambitions, assuming future generations will always repay, effectively becoming a perpetual swindler. **In simple terms:** States borrow for politics and war, expecting future repayment, acting like a swindler. Key Takeaway Recognize and limit unsustainable public debt. Themes politics economics history ethics Mood cautious critical Type analytical historical When to use this quote - budget planning - policy reform - citizen activism - financial education Key Concepts public finance intergenerational equity state power Questions to Reflect On - How can societies enforce fiscal responsibility? - What safeguards prevent perpetual debt? A Different Perspective Assumes future growth will always cover debt, ignoring economic cycles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption/) [Bankruptcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bankruptcy/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Chiefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chiefs/) [Credit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credit/) [Debt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debt/) [Debts Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debts-politics-4065618/) [Exploits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exploits/) [Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher/) [Honour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honour/) [Incurs Debts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incurs-debts-4065619/) [Let it go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-it-go/) [Merchants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merchants/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Perpetuity State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perpetuity-state-4065621/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [State Incurs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-incurs-4065622/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Swindlers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swindlers/) [Swindlers State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swindlers-state-4065620/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“All other swindlers upon earth are nothing to the self-swindlers, and with such pretences did I cheat myself. 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