Civil society Quote by Roger Scruton
““union’, you at the same time license the would-be leaders. You give credentials to those who promise to guide society along its allotted path, and you confer on them the authority to conscript, dictate, organize and punish the rest of us, regardless of how we might otherwise wish to lead our lives. In particular, you authorize the invasion of those institutions and associations that form the heart of civil society, in order to impose on them a direction and a goal that may have nothing to do with their intrinsic nature.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Authority of Institutions”, Roger Scruton, 2005
He critiques how granting authority to leaders can subvert civil society’s intrinsic nature.
In simple terms: Giving power to leaders can corrupt society’s core.
Key Takeaway
Guard institutional autonomy.
Themes
politics
authority
civil society
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- policy making
- community organizing
- activism
- education reform
Key Concepts
philosophy
political theory
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- Who decides legitimate authority?
- How can societies preserve intrinsic values?
A Different Perspective
Authority can be misused despite good intentions.
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