Accidents Quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
“A State, in idea, is the opposite of a Church. A State regards classes, and not individuals; and it estimates classes, not by internal merit, but external accidents, as property, birth, etc. But a church does the reverse of this, and disregards all external accidents, and looks at men as individual persons, allowing no gradations of ranks, but such as greater or less wisdom, learning, and holiness ought to confer. A Church is, therefore, in idea, the only pure democracy.”
About This Quote
The state judges people by inherited status, while a church values individuals by personal virtues, making the church a pure democracy.
In simple terms: State values birth, church values wisdom.
Key Takeaway
Recognize personal merit over inherited status.
Themes
politics
religion
equality
democracy
meritocracy
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- political analysis
- moral philosophy
- personal development
- community building
Key Concepts
social hierarchy
individual worth
spiritual democracy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies prioritize individual merit?
- What structures support true democratic equality?
A Different Perspective
State systems can still perpetuate inequities despite ideals.
![“I do not make decisions [as governor] based on what have I learned through my Bible studies, what have I learned in my religious classes in school. I'm a big believer in separation of church and state, and I think that's what . . . the law is.” quote by Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a18/arnold-schwarzenegger-657_believer_i-do-not-make-decisions-as-governor-base_18031.jpg)
