Government Quote by Larken Rose
““Bizarrely, almost every statist admits that politicians are more dishonest, corrupt, conniving and selfish than most people, but still insists that civilization can exist only if those particularly untrustworthy people are given both the power and the right to forcibly control everyone else. Believers in "government" truly believe that the only thing that can keep them safe from the flaws of human nature is taking some of those flawed humans—some of the most flawed, in fact—and appointing them as gods, with the right to dominate all of mankind, in the absurd hope that, if given such tremendous power, such people will use it only for good. And the fact that that has never happened in the history of the world does not stop statists from insisting that it "needs" to happen to ensure peaceful civilization.””
About This Quote
The quote argues that granting ultimate authority to the most corrupt individuals is paradoxical, as it assumes power will corrupt even the already flawed, yet history shows this never yields a just society.
In simple terms: Power given to corrupt leaders fails to create peace.
Key Takeaway
Authority does not guarantee virtue.
Themes
political philosophy
human nature
power dynamics
government legitimacy
corruption
Mood
skeptical
cynical
critical
Type
political critique
philosophical observation
cautionary statement
When to use this quote
- voting for leaders
- supporting authoritarian policies
- debating governance models
- evaluating political reforms
- critiquing state power
Key Concepts
trust
authority
ethics
societal organization
Practical Applications
- advocating for limited government
- promoting decentralized decision‑making
Questions to Reflect On
- Is power inherently corrupting?
- Can any system prevent elite exploitation?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that strong central authority can enforce order and protect rights, though this risks abuse.
![“To regard such a positive mental science [psychology] as rising above the sphere of history, and establishing the permanent and unchanging laws of human nature, is therefore possible only to a person who mistakes the transient conditions of a certain historical age for the permanent conditions of…” quote by Robin G. Collingwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/778/robin-g-collingwood-23357_age_to-regard-such-a-positive-mental-science_2385552.jpg)
