--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some people suggest that the problem is…" description: "\"Some people suggest that the problem is the separation of powers. If you had a parliamentary system, the struggle for power would not result in such co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/466/james-q-wilson-16701_contradictory_some-people-suggest-that-the-problem-is_3073576.jpg" --- # Some people suggest that the problem is the separation of… ![“Some people suggest that the problem is the separation of powers. If you had a parliamentary system, the struggle for power would not result in such complex peace treaties that empower so many different people to pursue so many contradictory aims” quote by James Q. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/466/james-q-wilson-16701_contradictory_some-people-suggest-that-the-problem-is_3073576.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/466/james-q-wilson-16701_contradictory_some-people-suggest-that-the-problem-is_3073576.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/466/james-q-wilson-16701_contradictory_some-people-suggest-that-the-problem-is_3073576.jpg) > “Some people suggest that the problem is the separation of powers. If you had a parliamentary system, the struggle for power would not result in such complex peace treaties that empower so many different people to pursue so many contradictory aims” [James Q. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-q-wilson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Separating powers can complicate governance, leading to fragmented peace agreements and conflicting goals. **In simple terms:** Power separation creates complex treaties. Key Takeaway Recognize and manage fragmented interests. Themes politics governance conflict resolution Mood analytical critical Type political strategic When to use this quote - international negotiations - legislative design - conflict management Key Concepts separation of powers policy complexity Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms can streamline conflicting aims? - How does power separation affect peace? A Different Perspective Complex systems can be hard to coordinate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contradictory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradictory/) [Contradictory Aims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradictory-aims-5211176/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-people/) [Parliamentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parliamentary/) [Parliamentary Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parliamentary-struggle-5211174/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Powers Parliamentary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powers-parliamentary-5211175/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Pursue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) [Separation of powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-of-powers/) [Separation Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-powers-550918/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Struggle Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle-power-277383/) [Treaties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treaties/) ## Related quotes > [Many, if not most, of the difficulties we experience in dealing with government agencies arise from the agencies being part of a fragmented and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-q-wilson/many-if-not-most-of-the-difficulties-we-experience-in-dealing-with/) [James Q. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-q-wilson/) > [One of the principles upon which the E.U. is built is the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/one-of-the-principles-upon-which-the-e-u-is-built-is-the-separation/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [I sometimes think that when he was at Harvard Law School, Mr. Obama cut class the day they got to the separation of powers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/i-sometimes-think-that-when-he-was-at-harvard-law-school-mr-obama-cut/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [The bedrock principle of separation of powers ought to be upheld regardless of the (D) or (R) that rests behind a given president's name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-bedrock-principle-of-separation-of-powers-ought-to-be-upheld/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [The basic premise of the Constitution was a separation of powers and a system of checks and balances because man was perceived as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/the-basic-premise-of-the-constitution-was-a-separation-of-powers-and/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [ “The political liberty, of the subject, (separation of powers), is a tranquility of mind arising from the opinion each person has of \[their\] safety.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/the-political-liberty-of-the-subject-separation-of-powers-is-a/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [Our political organization, based as it is on an eighteenth-century separation of powers and on a nineteenth-century nationalist state, is generally recognized to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-quigley/our-political-organization-based-as-it-is-on-an-eighteenth-century/) [Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) > [Under the doctrine of separation of powers, the manner in which the president personally exercises his assigned executive powers is not subject to questioning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/under-the-doctrine-of-separation-of-powers-the-manner-in-which-the/) [Richard M. 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The Constitution clearly delegates the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-rohrabacher/i-rise-in-support-of-the-separation-of-powers-as-established-by-our/) [Dana Rohrabacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-rohrabacher/) > [It was the separation of powers upon which the framers placed their hopes for the preservation of the people's liberties. Despite this heritage, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/it-was-the-separation-of-powers-upon-which-the-framers-placed-their/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [I believe in the separation of powers. If a judge crosses the line between interpreting and making the law, he has crossed the line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/i-believe-in-the-separation-of-powers-if-a-judge-crosses-the-line/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) ## More by James Q. 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Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-q-wilson/) > [Crime is the price society pays for abandoning character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-q-wilson/crime-is-the-price-society-pays-for-abandoning-character/) [James Q. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-q-wilson/) > [A government without the power of defense! It is a solecism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-q-wilson/a-government-without-the-power-of-defense-it-is-a-solecism/) [James Q. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-q-wilson/) > [Public order is a fragile thing, and if you don't fix the first broken window, soon all the windows will be broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-q-wilson/public-order-is-a-fragile-thing-and-if-you-don-t-fix-the-first-broken/) [James Q. 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