--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The State is a poor, good beast who means…" description: "\"The State is a poor, good beast who means the best: it means friendly.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beast_the-state-is-a-poor-good-beast-who-means_503475.png" --- # The State is a poor, good beast who means the best: it… ![“The State is a poor, good beast who means the best: it means friendly.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beast_the-state-is-a-poor-good-beast-who-means_503475.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beast_the-state-is-a-poor-good-beast-who-means_503475.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beast_the-state-is-a-poor-good-beast-who-means_503475.png) > “The State is a poor, good beast who means the best: it means friendly.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## 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 should act as a benevolent caretaker, prioritizing the common good over self‑interest. **In simple terms:** The state is a kind, helpful guardian. Key Takeaway Support policies that serve the public. Themes government public good caretaker Mood optimistic concerned Type political philosophical When to use this quote - public health reforms - education funding - community services - disaster response Key Concepts social contract collective welfare Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens ensure the state remains truly friendly? - What safeguards protect against governmental overreach? A Different Perspective State actions can be inefficient or self‑serving, limiting benevolence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beast/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) ## Related quotes > [A democracy is a state in which the poor, gaining the upper hand, kill some and banish others, and then divide the offices among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/a-democracy-is-a-state-in-which-the-poor-gaining-the-upper-hand-kill/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I think being poor has been good for me. I saw how my mom and dad struggled, and how they could stretch a dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-think-being-poor-has-been-good-for-me-i-saw-how-my-mom-and-dad/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [I was poor. When you're poor you work, and when you're rich you expect somebody to hand it to you. So I think being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imogen-cunningham/i-was-poor-when-you-re-poor-you-work-and-when-you-re-rich-you-expect/) [Imogen Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imogen-cunningham/) > [The church, the state, and the poor, are 3 daughters which we should maintain, but not portion off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-church-the-state-and-the-poor-are-3-daughters-which-we-should/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > ['YouKu' means what's best and what's cool in Chinese. So, the whole product philosophy really revolves around how to help users, from a massive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-koo/youku-means-what-s-best-and-what-s-cool-in-chinese-so-the-whole/) [Victor Koo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-koo/) > [“Normal. Awesome, revered, unassailable and celebrated normal. As if the way we've stumbled into living is the way things should be because it's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-b-truant/normal-awesome-revered-unassailable-and-celebrated-normal-as-if-the/) [Johnny B. Truant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-b-truant/) > [If you are good at in the art of finding consolation, it means that you have the best medicine after the disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-are-good-at-in-the-art-of-finding-consolation-it-means-that/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Never ask me what's wrong. my answer will always be nothing because you have already proven to me that everything important to me means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-ask-me-what-s-wrong-my-answer-will-always-be-nothing-because/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“¿Cuál es el mejor estado del mundo?: Estar dos unidos. Translation. This phrase means: "What is the best state of the world?: Being together.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ngel-s-ez-guti-rrez/cu-l-es-el-mejor-estado-del-mundo-estar-dos-unidos-translation-this/) [Miguel Ángel Sáez Gutiérrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ngel-s-ez-guti-rrez/) > [“Sacrifice for a worthy cause means something. It's the best of what makes us human.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-anastasiu/sacrifice-for-a-worthy-cause-means-something-it-s-the-best-of-what/) [Heather Anastasiu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-anastasiu/) > [“First Principle: Have a point and make it by means of the best word.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/first-principle-have-a-point-and-make-it-by-means-of-the-best-word/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [Thrift means that you should always have the best you can possibly afford, when the thing has any reference to your physical and mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/thrift-means-that-you-should-always-have-the-best-you-can-possibly/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [Everything knows what is best for itself. That is what the Sanskrit word dharma means. Dharma means the best of all possible actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everything-knows-what-is-best-for-itself-that-is-what-the-sanskrit/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Being alone means you're always with your best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-turner/being-alone-means-you-re-always-with-your-best-friend/) Melanie Turner > [If Somebody tells u Take Care That means u r one of the best part in their Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reian-jain/if-somebody-tells-u-take-care-that-means-u-r-one-of-the-best-part-in/) [Reian Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reian-jain/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Beast quotes > [We became Homo sapiens not that long ago, from the scientific perspective, and we've retained a lot of our beast nature. We've done all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/we-became-homo-sapiens-not-that-long-ago-from-the-scientific/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a naïve and innocent girl who thought she could tame the beast and live happily ever after. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-na-ve-and-innocent-girl-who-thought-she/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [Is man no more than this? Consider him well. Thou ow'st the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep no wool, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/is-man-no-more-than-this-consider-him-well-thou-ow-st-the-worm-no/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [In giving us dominion over the animal kingdom God has signified His will that we subdue the beast within ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/in-giving-us-dominion-over-the-animal-kingdom-god-has-signified-his/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [ No visiting angel, or explorer from another planet, could have guessed that this bland orb \[Earth\] teemed with vermin, with world-mastering, self-torturing, incipiently angelic… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/no-visiting-angel-or-explorer-from-another-planet-could-have-guessed/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [As a beast of toil an ox is fixed capital. If he is eaten, he no longer functions as an instrument of labour, nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/as-a-beast-of-toil-an-ox-is-fixed-capital-if-he-is-eaten-he-no-longer/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [« He squeezed his hands into fists. I picked up a grapefruit-sized rock and handed it to him. It went flying. Home run, Beast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/he-squeezed-his-hands-into-fists-i-picked-up-a-grapefruit-sized-rock/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [Was man made stupid to see his own stupidity? Is God by definition indifferent, beyond us all? Is the eternal truth man's fighting soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-eberhart/was-man-made-stupid-to-see-his-own-stupidity-is-god-by-definition/) [Richard Eberhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-eberhart/) > [When a man is treated like a beast, he says, 'After all, I'm human.' When he behaves like a beast, he says 'After all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/when-a-man-is-treated-like-a-beast-he-says-after-all-i-m-human-when/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [The American people are incredibly generous and even playful when you open yourself up and feed the media beast until it goes away satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/the-american-people-are-incredibly-generous-and-even-playful-when-you/) [Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/) > [Wherever I am, I see the yoke on women in some form or another. On some it sits easy for they are but beasts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-may-alcott/wherever-i-am-i-see-the-yoke-on-women-in-some-form-or-another-on-some/) [Abby May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-may-alcott/) > [“He's a beast. A monster. And he looks like he wants to devour me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-darhower/he-s-a-beast-a-monster-and-he-looks-like-he-wants-to-devour-me/) [J.M. Darhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-darhower/) > [ Antichrist is the pope and the Turk \[Muslim\] together. A beast full of life must have a body and soul. The spirit or soul… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/antichrist-is-the-pope-and-the-turk-muslim-together-a-beast-full-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [My hero among heroes is my grandmother, she's the epitome of strength and I try to mock that strength all the time. She's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeriel-miranda/my-hero-among-heroes-is-my-grandmother-she-s-the-epitome-of-strength/) [Aeriel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeriel-miranda/) > [You've heard tales of beauty and the beast. How a fair maid falls in love with a monster and sees the beauty of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-maitland/you-ve-heard-tales-of-beauty-and-the-beast-how-a-fair-maid-falls-in/) [Karen Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-maitland/) [Browse all 1,640 Beast quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beast/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The State is a poor, good beast who means the best: it means friendly.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-state-is-a-poor-good-beast-who-means-the-best-it-means-friendly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beast" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-state-is-a-poor-good-beast-who-means-the-best-it-means-friendly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beast_the-state-is-a-poor-good-beast-who-means_503475.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beast_the-state-is-a-poor-good-beast-who-means_503475.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_beast_the-state-is-a-poor-good-beast-who-means_503475.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The State is a poor, good beast who means the best: it means friendly.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The State is a poor, good...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-state-is-a-poor-good-beast-who-means-the-best-it-means-friendly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-state-is-a-poor-good-beast-who-means-the-best-it-means-friendly/#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 } } ] } ```