--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are two powers only which are…" description: "\"There are two powers only which are sufficient to control men, and secure the rights of individuals and a peaceable administration; these are the combi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/noah-webster-8440_administration_there-are-two-powers-only-which-are-suff_2539701.jpg" --- # There are two powers only which are sufficient to control… ![“There are two powers only which are sufficient to control men, and secure the rights of individuals and a peaceable administration; these are the combined force of religion and law, and the force or fear of the bayonet.” quote by Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/noah-webster-8440_administration_there-are-two-powers-only-which-are-suff_2539701.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/noah-webster-8440_administration_there-are-two-powers-only-which-are-suff_2539701.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/246/noah-webster-8440_administration_there-are-two-powers-only-which-are-suff_2539701.jpg) > “There are two powers only which are sufficient to control men, and secure the rights of individuals and a peaceable administration; these are the combined force of religion and law, and the force or fear of the bayonet.” [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religion and law together, plus the threat of force, are the only means to ensure individual rights and peaceful governance. **In simple terms:** Religion, law, and force keep order. Key Takeaway Balance moral authority with legal structures. Themes politics order authority Mood analytical critical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - government policy - legal reform - public safety - civil rights Key Concepts social contract coercion civil liberties Questions to Reflect On - Is fear a legitimate tool for peace? - How can rights be protected without coercion? A Different Perspective Force can suppress freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powers/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) ## Related quotes > [Now you are no longer a giggling child, smiling at whoever comes along. You are a woman with power. 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Denzil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-a-denzil/) > [There's this notion of women's bodies being out of control - so out of control that men don't understand it at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-abbott/there-s-this-notion-of-women-s-bodies-being-out-of-control-so-out-of/) [Megan Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-abbott/) > [You can't control men so you need to control yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-control-men-so-you-need-to-control-yourself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men control the world, but women control the men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/men-control-the-world-but-women-control-the-men/) [Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/) > [“That was the great misconception about men: because they dealt with money, because they could hire someone on and later fire him, because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdowell/that-was-the-great-misconception-about-men-because-they-dealt-with/) [Michael McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdowell/) > [Every step by which men add to their knowledge and skills is a step also by which they can control other men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lerner/every-step-by-which-men-add-to-their-knowledge-and-skills-is-a-step/) [Max Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lerner/) > [ More than all, and above all, \[George\] Washington was master of himself. If there be one quality more than another in his character which… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-francis-adams-sr/more-than-all-and-above-all-george-washington-was-master-of-himself/) Charles Francis Adams, Sr > [Men of all ages have the same inclinations, over which reason exercises no control. Thus, wherever men are found, there are follies, ay, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/men-of-all-ages-have-the-same-inclinations-over-which-reason/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [“Of course you can. It’s a woman’s prerogative. We get our way. 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Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-eltahawy/why-were-women-alone-responsible-for-sheltering-men-from-the-sexual/) [Mona Eltahawy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-eltahawy/) > [Two things control men's nature, instinct and experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/two-things-control-men-s-nature-instinct-and-experience/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“A free economy cannot exist without competition. Therefore, men must be forced to compete. Therefore, we must control men in order to force them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/a-free-economy-cannot-exist-without-competition-therefore-men-must-be/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) ## More by Noah Webster > [In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/in-the-formation-of-such-a-government-it-is-not-only-the-right-but/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [The freedom of the press is a valuable privilege; but the abuse of it, in this country, is a frightful evil. The licentiousness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/the-freedom-of-the-press-is-a-valuable-privilege-but-the-abuse-of-it/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [EDUCATION, n. The bringing up, as of a child; instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/education-n-the-bringing-up-as-of-a-child-instruction-formation-of/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [The education of youth, an employment of more consequence than making laws and preaching the gospel, because it lays the foundation on which both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/the-education-of-youth-an-employment-of-more-consequence-than-making/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Every civil government is based upon some religion or philosophy of life. Education in a nation will propagate the religion of that nation. 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I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/what-was-unique-about-me-being-in-city-hall-during-the-giuliani/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [The Trump administration launched the cruise missile strikes in Syria, an act of war, without a U.N. resolution or Congressional authorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-trump-administration-launched-the-cruise-missile-strikes-in-syria/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The only way I'll ever run a marathon is if I'm involved in the administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/the-only-way-i-ll-ever-run-a-marathon-is-if-i-m-involved-in-the/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [Obama spent the first two years of his administration practicing political unilateral disarmament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/obama-spent-the-first-two-years-of-his-administration-practicing/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [In mid-May, the House of Representatives approved the full amount of money that the Veterans Administration said was needed for next year - plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/in-mid-may-the-house-of-representatives-approved-the-full-amount-of/) [Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. 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