Bourbon Quote by Ludwig von Mises
“Louis XIV was very frank and sincere when he said: I am the State. The modern statist is modest. He says: I am the servant of the State; but, he implies, the State is God. You could revolt against a Bourbon king, and the French did it. This was, of course, a struggle of man against man. But you cannot revolt against the god State and against his humble handy man, the bureaucrat.”
About This Quote
The passage contrasts the overt claim of serving the state with the underlying reality of the state as a deity, arguing that while rebellion against a monarch is possible, the modern bureaucratic state is more entrenched and harder to challenge.
In simple terms: State as deity vs. servant.
Key Takeaway
Question authority and its hidden power.
Themes
political power
authority
rebellion
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- activism
- policy reform
- citizen engagement
- academic debate
Key Concepts
philosophy
political theory
Questions to Reflect On
- Can individuals effectively resist systemic power?
- What alternatives exist to centralized authority?
A Different Perspective
Bureaucracy can be subtle and pervasive.
