--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Government and state can never be perfect…" description: "\"Government and state can never be perfect because they owe their raison d'être to the imperfection of man and can attain their end, the elimination of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/799/ludwig-von-mises-364_elimination_government-and-state-can-never-be-perfec_394212.png" --- # Government and state can never be perfect because they owe… ![“Government and state can never be perfect because they owe their raison d'être to the imperfection of man and can attain their end, the elimination of man's innate impulse to violence, only by recourse to violence, the very thing they are called upon to prevent.” quote by Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/799/ludwig-von-mises-364_elimination_government-and-state-can-never-be-perfec_394212.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/799/ludwig-von-mises-364_elimination_government-and-state-can-never-be-perfec_394212.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/799/ludwig-von-mises-364_elimination_government-and-state-can-never-be-perfec_394212.png) > “Government and state can never be perfect because they owe their raison d'être to the imperfection of man and can attain their end, the elimination of man's innate impulse to violence, only by recourse to violence, the very thing they are called upon to prevent.” [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author argues that governments, being human constructs, inherit human flaws and thus must use force to suppress violence, which paradoxically requires the very violence they aim to stop. **In simple terms:** Governments are imperfect and may need force to prevent violence, creating a paradox. Key Takeaway Recognize the paradox of state violence. Themes politics philosophy ethics Mood critical thought‑provoking Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy debates - law enforcement - civil rights activism - peacebuilding Key Concepts state legitimacy violence paradox human nature Questions to Reflect On - Can societies reduce violence without state force? - What non‑violent mechanisms can replace coercion? A Different Perspective The argument may overlook non‑violent alternatives and the role of institutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Imperfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperfection/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Raison d'etre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raison-d-etre/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) ## Related quotes > [Every imperfection you have as a man makes a sound as it knifes through satin sheets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/every-imperfection-you-have-as-a-man-makes-a-sound-as-it-knifes/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [When you criminalize something, only criminals can deal with it. 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Rajan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghuram-g-rajan/) > [The "social contract," in the only sense in which it is not completely mythical, is a contract among conquerors, which loses its raison d'être…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-social-contract-in-the-only-sense-in-which-it-is-not-completely/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## More by Ludwig von Mises > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Changes in human conditions are brought about by the pioneering of the cleverest and most energetic men. 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