--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How can you have order in a state without…" description: "\"How can you have order in a state without religion? For, when one man is dying of hunger near another who is ill of surfeit, he cannot resign himself t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/napoleon-bonaparte-206_authority_how-can-you-have-order-in-a-state-withou_1704094.jpg" --- # How can you have order in a state without religion? For… ![“How can you have order in a state without religion? For, when one man is dying of hunger near another who is ill of surfeit, he cannot resign himself to this difference unless there is an authority which declares 'God wills it thus.' Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet.” quote by Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/napoleon-bonaparte-206_authority_how-can-you-have-order-in-a-state-withou_1704094.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/napoleon-bonaparte-206_authority_how-can-you-have-order-in-a-state-withou_1704094.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/napoleon-bonaparte-206_authority_how-can-you-have-order-in-a-state-withou_1704094.jpg) > “How can you have order in a state without religion? For, when one man is dying of hunger near another who is ill of surfeit, he cannot resign himself to this difference unless there is an authority which declares 'God wills it thus.' Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet.” [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Order without shared belief needs a secular authority that can legitimize law and welfare for all citizens. **In simple terms:** Secular authority can replace religion for social order. Key Takeaway Establish fair, neutral institutions. Themes politics religion authority social order Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - government policy - public health - education - conflict resolution Key Concepts secularism legitimacy social contract Questions to Reflect On - How can laws reflect common good without religious references? - What role should moral education play in a secular state? A Different Perspective Religion can still influence culture and identity, complicating pure secularism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Common people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-people/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Hunger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunger/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [“Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet. Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/religion-is-excellent-stuff-for-keeping-common-people-quiet-religion/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/religion-is-excellent-stuff-for-keeping-common-people-quiet/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“The “Larger Westminster Catechism” (1688)—adopted by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church—declares, “God, by an eternal and immutable decree, out of His mere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/the-larger-westminster-catechism-1688-adopted-by-the-general-assembly/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“To bring maximum glory to His Name the Lord is assembling an end times movement of weak, poor, helpless, and despised people who the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gospel-fellowships/to-bring-maximum-glory-to-his-name-the-lord-is-assembling-an-end/) Gospel Fellowships > [The net effect of the distortion of the First Amendment is to require that wherever the state is, religion must be excluded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-swindall/the-net-effect-of-the-distortion-of-the-first-amendment-is-to-require/) [Pat Swindall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-swindall/) > [The founders proscribed the establishment of a state religion, but they did not countenance the elimination of religion from the public square. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-founders-proscribed-the-establishment-of-a-state-religion-but/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [The First Amendment...does not say that in every respect there shall be a separation of Church and State…Otherwise the state and religion would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/the-first-amendment-does-not-say-that-in-every-respect-there-shall-be/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [Religion cannot sink lower than when somehow it is raised to a state religion ... It becomes then an avowed mistress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/religion-cannot-sink-lower-than-when-somehow-it-is-raised-to-a-state/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [Fanaticism is not a state of religion but a state of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/fanaticism-is-not-a-state-of-religion-but-a-state-of-mind/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [“The phrase ‘separation of church and state,’ which appears in no founding document (only in a letter written by Thomas Jefferson), means that America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-phrase-separation-of-church-and-state-which-appears-in-no/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [“My dear, religion is a null area in the law. A church can do anything any organization can do—and has no restrictions. It pays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/my-dear-religion-is-a-null-area-in-the-law-a-church-can-do-anything/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [ It \[the State\] has taken on a vast mass of new duties and responsibilities; it has spread out its powers until they penetrate to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/it-the-state-has-taken-on-a-vast-mass-of-new-duties-and/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Who are we, this government or this country, to redefine the term marriage that has meant one man and one woman across cultures, across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-loughton/who-are-we-this-government-or-this-country-to-redefine-the-term/) Tim Loughton > [America's state religion, is patriotism, a phenomenon which has convinced many of the citizenry that 'treason' is morally worse than murder or rape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blum/america-s-state-religion-is-patriotism-a-phenomenon-which-has/) [William Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blum/) > [The majority of Utah's citizens do not merely approve the death penalty, they demand it - the state religion demands it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-alexander/the-majority-of-utah-s-citizens-do-not-merely-approve-the-death/) [Shana Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-alexander/) ## More by Napoleon Bonaparte > [He is almost a statesman. He lies well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/he-is-almost-a-statesman-he-lies-well/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Men grow old quickly on the battlefield.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/men-grow-old-quickly-on-the-battlefield/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The only victories which leave no regret are those which are gained over ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-only-victories-which-leave-no-regret-are-those-which-are-gained/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [When a government is dependent upon bankers for money, they and not the leaders of the government control the situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/when-a-government-is-dependent-upon-bankers-for-money-they-and-not/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [In the eyes of empire builders men are not men but instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/in-the-eyes-of-empire-builders-men-are-not-men-but-instruments/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [All becomes easy when we follow the current of opinion; it is the ruler of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/all-becomes-easy-when-we-follow-the-current-of-opinion-it-is-the/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The bullet that will kill me is not yet cast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-bullet-that-will-kill-me-is-not-yet-cast/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [A great reputation is a great noise, the more there is of it, and the further does it swell. Land, monuments, Nations, all fall,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-great-reputation-is-a-great-noise-the-more-there-is-of-it-and-the/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Character is victory organized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/character-is-victory-organized/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Republican despotism is more fertile in acts of tyranny, because everyone has a hand in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/republican-despotism-is-more-fertile-in-acts-of-tyranny-because/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [My decision to destroy the authority of the blacks in Saint Domingue (Haiti) is not so much based on considerations of commerce and money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/my-decision-to-destroy-the-authority-of-the-blacks-in-saint-domingue/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The army is the true nobility of our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-army-is-the-true-nobility-of-our-country/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [There is only one favorable moment in war; talent consists in knowing how to seize it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/there-is-only-one-favorable-moment-in-war-talent-consists-in-knowing/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [A great reserve and severity of manners are necessary for the command of those who are older than ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-great-reserve-and-severity-of-manners-are-necessary-for-the-command/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) [Explore all 914 Napoleon Bonaparte quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [I think people need to be comfortable questioning the authority of a doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-cahalan/i-think-people-need-to-be-comfortable-questioning-the-authority-of-a/) [Susannah Cahalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-cahalan/) > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [“I'm of the age and immaturity level that I cannot give you my respect solely because you are older or ranked higher on an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-goros/i-m-of-the-age-and-immaturity-level-that-i-cannot-give-you-my-respect/) [Erica Goros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-goros/) > [In the end theologians are jealous of science, for they are aware that it has greater authority than do their own ways of finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-a-coyne/in-the-end-theologians-are-jealous-of-science-for-they-are-aware-that/) [Jerry A. Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-a-coyne/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Sometimes it's easier for people who are in authority to be authoritarian, because people know where you stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/sometimes-it-s-easier-for-people-who-are-in-authority-to-be/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [The victory of Hamas is not only based on the corruption of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas has a vision and a program, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-haniyeh/the-victory-of-hamas-is-not-only-based-on-the-corruption-of-the/) [Ismail Haniyeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-haniyeh/) [Browse all 4,003 Authority quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How can you have order in a state without religion? For, when one man is dying of hunger near another who is ill of surfeit, he cannot resign himself to this difference unless there is an authority which declares 'God wills it thus.' Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Napoleon Bonaparte" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/how-can-you-have-order-in-a-state-without-religion-for-when-one-man/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Authority" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/how-can-you-have-order-in-a-state-without-religion-for-when-one-man/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/napoleon-bonaparte-206_authority_how-can-you-have-order-in-a-state-withou_1704094.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/napoleon-bonaparte-206_authority_how-can-you-have-order-in-a-state-withou_1704094.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/napoleon-bonaparte-206_authority_how-can-you-have-order-in-a-state-withou_1704094.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“How can you have order in a state without religion? For, when one man is dying of hunger near another who is…” — Napoleon Bonaparte", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Napoleon Bonaparte", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "How can you have order in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/how-can-you-have-order-in-a-state-without-religion-for-when-one-man/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/how-can-you-have-order-in-a-state-without-religion-for-when-one-man/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```