Force Quote by John Milton
“Subdue By force, who reason for their law refuse, Right reason for their law.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: Paradise Lost, Book I, 1667
When law is rejected, force must be used to enforce reason, suggesting that authority may be required to uphold rational order.
In simple terms: Force may enforce law when reason is ignored.
Key Takeaway
Use authority to protect rational order.
Themes
law
reason
authority
Mood
critical
ethical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- government enforcement
- civil disobedience
- ethical governance
Key Concepts
social contract
political philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- When is force justified?
- What alternatives exist to enforce reason?
A Different Perspective
Force can suppress liberty; moral authority may be preferable.
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
