--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The men who are to protect the community…" description: "\"The men who are to protect the community against violent aggression easily turn into the most dangerous aggressors. They transgress their mandate. They..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f0/ludwig-von-mises-364_aggression_the-men-who-are-to-protect-the-community_3011686.png" --- # The men who are to protect the community against violent… ![“The men who are to protect the community against violent aggression easily turn into the most dangerous aggressors. They transgress their mandate. They misuse their power for the oppression of those whom they were expected to defend against oppression. The main political problem is how to prevent…” quote by Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f0/ludwig-von-mises-364_aggression_the-men-who-are-to-protect-the-community_3011686.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f0/ludwig-von-mises-364_aggression_the-men-who-are-to-protect-the-community_3011686.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f0/ludwig-von-mises-364_aggression_the-men-who-are-to-protect-the-community_3011686.png) > “The men who are to protect the community against violent aggression easily turn into the most dangerous aggressors. They transgress their mandate. They misuse their power for the oppression of those whom they were expected to defend against oppression. The main political problem is how to prevent the police power from becoming tyrannical. This is the meaning of all the struggles for liberty.” [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. Those tasked with protecting society can become its greatest oppressors when they exceed their mandate and misuse authority. **In simple terms:** Protectors can become tyrants. Key Takeaway Guard against abuse of authority. Themes politics law authority liberty Mood concerned thoughtful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - law enforcement oversight - public policy - activism - community safety - judicial reform Key Concepts political theory civil rights state power Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure police accountability? - What limits should be placed on state power? A Different Perspective Balancing security and freedom is complex; safeguards may limit effectiveness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aggression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggression/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Police power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police-power/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) ## Related quotes > [The main political problem is how to prevent the police power from becoming tyrannical. This is the meaning of all the struggles for liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-main-political-problem-is-how-to-prevent-the-police-power-from/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [The aim of all struggles for liberty is to keep in bounds the armed defenders of peace, the governors and their constables. The political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-aim-of-all-struggles-for-liberty-is-to-keep-in-bounds-the-armed/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [In our early struggles for liberty, religious freedom could not fail to become a primary object.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/in-our-early-struggles-for-liberty-religious-freedom-could-not-fail/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Aggressors cannot wage total war without introducing Socialism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/aggressors-cannot-wage-total-war-without-introducing-socialism/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [To defeat the aggressors is not enough to make peace durable. The main thing is to discard the ideology that generates war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/to-defeat-the-aggressors-is-not-enough-to-make-peace-durable-the-main/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-story/the-powers-not-delegated-to-the-united-states-by-the-constitution-nor/) [Joseph Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-story/) > [The whole drug war is nothing but a pretext to increase police power and personnel, and that, of course, is dead wrong. So many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/the-whole-drug-war-is-nothing-but-a-pretext-to-increase-police-power/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [John Steinbeck's 'The Grapes of Wrath' also speaks urgently to today's concerns: the cratered trail of dreams for Mexican immigrants seeking a promised land…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-corliss/john-steinbeck-s-the-grapes-of-wrath-also-speaks-urgently-to-today-s/) [Richard Corliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-corliss/) > [Secondly, as a result of this political favoritism, the FDA has become a primary factor in that formula whereby cartel-oriented companies in the food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-edward-griffin/secondly-as-a-result-of-this-political-favoritism-the-fda-has-become/) [G. Edward Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-edward-griffin/) > [“Patrol was not difficult work. They stopped any niggers they saw and demanded their passes. They stopped niggers they knew to be free, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/patrol-was-not-difficult-work-they-stopped-any-niggers-they-saw-and/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [September 11th does not justify ignoring the Constitution by creating broad new federal police powers. The rule of law is worthless if we ignore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/september-11th-does-not-justify-ignoring-the-constitution-by-creating/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [The FDA protects the big drug companies, and is subsequently rewarded, and using the government's police powers, they attack those who threaten the big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-l-ley-jr/the-fda-protects-the-big-drug-companies-and-is-subsequently-rewarded/) Herbert L. Ley, Jr > [Taking legislative authority away from the federal government doesn't necessarily mean freer individuals. It might just mean granting vastly more authority to the states--which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dahlia-lithwick/taking-legislative-authority-away-from-the-federal-government-doesn-t/) [Dahlia Lithwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dahlia-lithwick/) > [The thing that bugs me is that the people think the FDA is protecting them - it isn’t. What the FDA is doing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-l-ley-jr/the-thing-that-bugs-me-is-that-the-people-think-the-fda-is-protecting/) Herbert L. Ley, Jr > [If legislators come to believe that police power is an ever-present constitutional trump card they can play whenever it suits them, overreaching is inexorable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-willett/if-legislators-come-to-believe-that-police-power-is-an-ever-present/) [Don Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-willett/) ## 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. They take the lead and the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/changes-in-human-conditions-are-brought-about-by-the-pioneering-of/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [During the 2300 years since Plato, very little opposition has been registered to his ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/during-the-2300-years-since-plato-very-little-opposition-has-been/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [“How little one is justified in speaking in this connection of "optimism" and "pessimism" and how much the characterization of liberalism as "optimistic" aims…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/how-little-one-is-justified-in-speaking-in-this-connection-of/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Every step by which an individual substitutes concerted action for isolated action results in an immediate and recognizable improvement in his conditions. The advantages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/every-step-by-which-an-individual-substitutes-concerted-action-for/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [The capitalistic social order, therefore, is an economic democracy in the strictest sense of the word. In the last analysis, all decisions are dependent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-capitalistic-social-order-therefore-is-an-economic-democracy-in/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Without calculation, economic activity is impossible. Since under Socialism economic calculation is impossible, under Socialism there can be no economic activity in our sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/without-calculation-economic-activity-is-impossible-since-under/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [There is no kind of freedom and liberty other than the kind which the market economy brings about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/there-is-no-kind-of-freedom-and-liberty-other-than-the-kind-which-the/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Peace and not war is the father of all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/peace-and-not-war-is-the-father-of-all-things/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [What counts alone is the innovator, the dissenter, the harbinger of things unheard of, the man who rejects the traditional standards and aims at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/what-counts-alone-is-the-innovator-the-dissenter-the-harbinger-of/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [In reality no food is valued solely for its nutritive power and no garment or house solely for the protection it affords against cold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/in-reality-no-food-is-valued-solely-for-its-nutritive-power-and-no/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [All this talk: the state should do this or that, ultimately means: the police should force consumers to behave otherwise than they would behave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/all-this-talk-the-state-should-do-this-or-that-ultimately-means-the/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [The most successful businessmen were often uneducated when measured by the scholastic standards of the teaching profession. But they were equal to their social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-most-successful-businessmen-were-often-uneducated-when-measured/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Two hundred years ago, before the advent of capitalism, a man's social status was fixed from the beginning to the end of his life;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/two-hundred-years-ago-before-the-advent-of-capitalism-a-man-s-social/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Facts per se can neither prove nor refute anything. Everything is decided by the interpretation and explanation of the facts, by the ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/facts-per-se-can-neither-prove-nor-refute-anything-everything-is/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) [Explore all 637 Ludwig von Mises quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) ## More Aggression quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I used to fight with hate. There's been a lot of aggression in my past growing up and stuff. That's because I was hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-namajunas/i-used-to-fight-with-hate-there-s-been-a-lot-of-aggression-in-my-past/) [Rose Namajunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-namajunas/) > [We have nothing in our history or position to invite aggression; we have everything to beckon us to the cultivation of relations of peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-have-nothing-in-our-history-or-position-to-invite-aggression-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I take up the standpoint that the tendency to aggression is an innate, independent, instinctual disposition in man, and I come back now to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/i-take-up-the-standpoint-that-the-tendency-to-aggression-is-an-innate/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [Boxing can be so important to young people, it keeps you off the street and you can channel your energy and aggression in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/boxing-can-be-so-important-to-young-people-it-keeps-you-off-the/) [Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/) > [“That which is of great value cannot be attained through aggression. You will be able to find the mystery of life only if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/that-which-is-of-great-value-cannot-be-attained-through-aggression/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [A society that presumes a norm of violence and celebrates aggression, whether in the subway, on the football field, or in the conduct of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-h-lapham/a-society-that-presumes-a-norm-of-violence-and-celebrates-aggression/) [Lewis H. Lapham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-h-lapham/) > [I can remember watching MTV Cribs - these amazing houses - and looking around my house where there was no carpet on the floors.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bugzy-malone/i-can-remember-watching-mtv-cribs-these-amazing-houses-and-looking/) [Bugzy Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bugzy-malone/) > [Nationalism, on my opinion, is nothing more than an idealistic rationalization for militarism and aggression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/nationalism-on-my-opinion-is-nothing-more-than-an-idealistic/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I really like battle ropes. They're so versatile; you can get a terrific workout doing a ton of different exercises with them. My clients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-peterson/i-really-like-battle-ropes-they-re-so-versatile-you-can-get-a/) [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) > [ Now they \[the Powers\] have started the aggression, and the extinction of our nation is imminent. If we just fold our arms and yield… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/empress-dowager-cixi/now-they-the-powers-have-started-the-aggression-and-the-extinction-of/) Empress Dowager Cixi > [I'm not going to appeal to violence or aggression - of course not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-navalny/i-m-not-going-to-appeal-to-violence-or-aggression-of-course-not/) [Alexei Navalny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-navalny/) > [This is passive-aggression in action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/this-is-passive-aggression-in-action/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [When a child hits a child, we call it aggression. When a child hits an adult, we call it hostility. When an adult hits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-a-child-hits-a-child-we-call-it-aggression-when-a-child-hits-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Major international interventions are doomed unless the US is directly or indirectly involved. But if American politicians, officials and servicemen are to be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/major-international-interventions-are-doomed-unless-the-us-is/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) [Browse all 860 Aggression quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggression/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The men who are to protect the community against violent aggression easily turn into the most dangerous aggressors. They transgress their mandate. 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