--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What, then, is the government? An…" description: "\"What, then, is the government? An intermediary body established between the subjects and the sovereign for their mutual communication, a body charged w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/jean-jacques-rousseau-418_body_what-then-is-the-government-an-intermedi_638690.png" --- # What, then, is the government? An intermediary body… ![“What, then, is the government? An intermediary body established between the subjects and the sovereign for their mutual communication, a body charged with the execution of the laws and the maintenance of freedom, both civil and political.” quote by Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/jean-jacques-rousseau-418_body_what-then-is-the-government-an-intermedi_638690.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/jean-jacques-rousseau-418_body_what-then-is-the-government-an-intermedi_638690.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/jean-jacques-rousseau-418_body_what-then-is-the-government-an-intermedi_638690.png) > “What, then, is the government? An intermediary body established between the subjects and the sovereign for their mutual communication, a body charged with the execution of the laws and the maintenance of freedom, both civil and political.” [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Government is an intermediary that mediates between citizens and sovereign, ensuring communication, law enforcement, and protection of civil and political freedoms. **In simple terms:** Government mediates between people and ruler to protect freedoms. Key Takeaway Support institutions that safeguard liberty. Themes politics law freedom society Mood analytical critical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - voting - civic engagement - policy debate - human rights advocacy Key Concepts social contract theory political philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do citizens have toward government? - How can governments stay accountable? A Different Perspective Power can be abused despite good intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Execution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/execution/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Sovereign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sovereign/) ## Related quotes > [What, then, is the government? 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Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > ['Intermediary liability' means that the intermediary, a service that acts as 'intermediate' conduit for the transmission or publication of information, is held liable or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/intermediary-liability-means-that-the-intermediary-a-service-that/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [The tool which serves as intermediary between theory and practice, between thought and observation, is mathematics; it is mathematics which builds the linking bridges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hilbert/the-tool-which-serves-as-intermediary-between-theory-and-practice/) [David Hilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hilbert/) > [He is the intermediary between us, his audience, the living, and they, the dolls, the undead, who cannot live at all and yet who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-carter/he-is-the-intermediary-between-us-his-audience-the-living-and-they/) [Angela Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-carter/) > [An actor really is a kind of intermediary between an audience and the piece, whether it's a play or movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/an-actor-really-is-a-kind-of-intermediary-between-an-audience-and-the/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) > [“None can imitate life without the intermediary of art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bolitho/none-can-imitate-life-without-the-intermediary-of-art/) [William Bolitho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bolitho/) > [Intermediary liability enables the Chinese authorities to minimize the number of people they need to put in jail in order to stay in power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/intermediary-liability-enables-the-chinese-authorities-to-minimize/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [“The initial promise of computer technology was to remove the intermediary from the financial market, or at least reduce the amount he could scalp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/the-initial-promise-of-computer-technology-was-to-remove-the/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [I'm a believer that you accomplish much, much more with direct relationships than by using an intermediary. 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