---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The State is, and always has been, the…"
description: "\"The State is, and always has been, the great single enemy of the human race, its liberty, happiness, and progress.\" — Murray Rothbard"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/980/murray-rothbard-1563_enemy_the-state-is-and-always-has-been-the-gre_2346418.jpg"
---

#  The State is, and always has been, the great single enemy…

![“The State is, and always has been, the great single enemy of the human race, its liberty, happiness, and progress.” quote by Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/980/murray-rothbard-1563_enemy_the-state-is-and-always-has-been-the-gre_2346418.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/980/murray-rothbard-1563_enemy_the-state-is-and-always-has-been-the-gre_2346418.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/980/murray-rothbard-1563_enemy_the-state-is-and-always-has-been-the-gre_2346418.jpg)

> “The State is, and always has been, the great single enemy of the human race, its liberty, happiness, and progress.”

[Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The state, by its coercive nature, hinders individual freedom, well‑being, and societal advancement.

**In simple terms:** Government limits freedom and progress.

Key Takeaway

Question authority and protect liberty.

Themes

freedom government individualism

Mood

skeptical critical defiant

Type

political philosophical controversial

When to use this quote

- activism
- policy reform
- community organizing
- education
- legal challenges

Key Concepts

anarchism political economy libertarianism

Questions to Reflect On

- What alternatives to the state could ensure safety?
- How does government protect vulnerable groups?

A Different Perspective

State power can also provide order and public goods, complicating the critique.

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[Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Human race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-race/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/)

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