---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When mankind first saw the necessity of…"
description: "\"When mankind first saw the necessity of government, it is probable that many had conceived the desire of ruling.\" — Thomas Clarkson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/thomas-clarkson-46106_desire_when-mankind-first-saw-the-necessity-of_1728846.png"
---

#  When mankind first saw the necessity of government, it is…

![“When mankind first saw the necessity of government, it is probable that many had conceived the desire of ruling.” quote by Thomas Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/thomas-clarkson-46106_desire_when-mankind-first-saw-the-necessity-of_1728846.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/thomas-clarkson-46106_desire_when-mankind-first-saw-the-necessity-of_1728846.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/thomas-clarkson-46106_desire_when-mankind-first-saw-the-necessity-of_1728846.png)

> “When mankind first saw the necessity of government, it is probable that many had conceived the desire of ruling.”

[Thomas Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clarkson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Human nature inclines toward ruling, but recognizing this helps shape just governance.

**In simple terms:** People want to rule; awareness guides governance.

Key Takeaway

Design institutions that check power.

Themes

politics human nature government

Mood

analytical thoughtful

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

- legislative drafting
- civic education
- leadership training

Key Concepts

social contract power dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- How can societies channel ruling impulses constructively?
- What safeguards prevent abuse?

A Different Perspective

Ruling desire can be harnessed positively.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desire Ruling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-ruling-1411068/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Probable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-probable-1411066/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Necessity Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessity-government-1411065/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Probable Conceived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probable-conceived-1411067/) [Ruling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruling/)

## Related quotes

> [One desire has been the ruling passion of my life. One high motive has acted like a spur upon my mind and soul. and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/one-desire-has-been-the-ruling-passion-of-my-life-one-high-motive-has/)

[Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/)

> [“Could it be that desire for a good thing has become a bad thing because that desire has become a ruling thing?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/could-it-be-that-desire-for-a-good-thing-has-become-a-bad-thing/)

[Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/)

> [“The fracture between theology and oikonomia, being and action, insofar as it makes the praxis free and 'anarchic', opens in fact, at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-agamben/the-fracture-between-theology-and-oikonomia-being-and-action-insofar/)

[Giorgio Agamben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-agamben/)

> [Republicans define freedom as an absence of restraints imposed by government. Democrats define freedom as an absence of necessity, which government exists to reduce.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/republicans-define-freedom-as-an-absence-of-restraints-imposed-by/)

[George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/)

> [“Of course the no-government ethics will meet with at least as many objections as the no-capital economics. Our minds have been so nurtured in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pyotr-kropotkin/of-course-the-no-government-ethics-will-meet-with-at-least-as-many/)

[Pyotr Kropotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pyotr-kropotkin/)

> [It has been said that all Government is an evil. It would be more proper to say that the necessity of any Government is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/it-has-been-said-that-all-government-is-an-evil-it-would-be-more/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [In Washington and Moscow they are saying, 'Man has finally come of age; he doesn't need paternalistic help.' Which is another way of saying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/in-washington-and-moscow-they-are-saying-man-has-finally-come-of-age/)

[Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/)

> [Mankind have their local attachments. They have a particular regard for the spot, in which they were born and nurtured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/mankind-have-their-local-attachments-they-have-a-particular-regard/)

[Thomas Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clarkson/)

> [Jesus was the poorest of the poor. Roman Catholicism, which claims to be His church, is the richest of the rich, the wealthiest institution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avro-manhattan/jesus-was-the-poorest-of-the-poor-roman-catholicism-which-claims-to/)

[Avro Manhattan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avro-manhattan/)

> [“Madoc makes a snorting sound, then turns to me. 'I am sure that Wren here wouldn't mind taking Lady Nore's castle and lands for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/madoc-makes-a-snorting-sound-then-turns-to-me-i-am-sure-that-wren/)

[Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/)

> [David Rockefeller is the most conspicuous representative today of the ruling class, a multinational fraternity of men who shape the global economy and manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/david-rockefeller-is-the-most-conspicuous-representative-today-of-the/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

> [The earliest language was body language and, since this language is the language of questions, if we limit the questions, and if we only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-freire/the-earliest-language-was-body-language-and-since-this-language-is/)

[Paulo Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-freire/)

> [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The flood of photos sweeps away the dams of memory. Never before has a period known so little about itself. In the hands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegfried-kracauer/the-flood-of-photos-sweeps-away-the-dams-of-memory-never-before-has-a/)

[Siegfried Kracauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegfried-kracauer/)

> [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/)

[Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/)

## More by Thomas Clarkson

> [Mankind have their local attachments. They have a particular regard for the spot, in which they were born and nurtured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/mankind-have-their-local-attachments-they-have-a-particular-regard/)

[Thomas Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clarkson/)

> [We cannot suppose therefore that God has made an order of beings, with such mental qualities and powers, for the sole purpose of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/we-cannot-suppose-therefore-that-god-has-made-an-order-of-beings-with/)

[Thomas Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clarkson/)

> [Most of the slaves, who were thus unconditionally freed, returned without any solicitation to their former masters, to serve them, at stated wages; as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/most-of-the-slaves-who-were-thus-unconditionally-freed-returned/)

[Thomas Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clarkson/)

> [There are few retreats, that can escape the penetrating eye of avarice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/there-are-few-retreats-that-can-escape-the-penetrating-eye-of-avarice/)

[Thomas Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clarkson/)

> [It appears first, that liberty is a natural, and government an adventitious right, because all men were originally free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/it-appears-first-that-liberty-is-a-natural-and-government-an/)

[Thomas Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clarkson/)

> [Neither can men, by the same principles, be considered as lands, goods, or houses, among possessions. It is necessary that all property should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/neither-can-men-by-the-same-principles-be-considered-as-lands-goods/)

[Thomas Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clarkson/)

> [Should slavery be abolished there, (and it is an event, which, from these circumstances, we may reasonably expect to be produced in time) let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/should-slavery-be-abolished-there-and-it-is-an-event-which-from-these/)

[Thomas Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clarkson/)

[Explore all 8 Thomas Clarkson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clarkson/)

## More Desire quotes

> [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/)

[Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/)

> [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/)

[David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/)

> [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/)

[John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/)

> [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/)

[John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/)

> [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/)

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

> [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/)

[Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/)

> [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/)

[Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/)

> [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/)

> [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/)

[Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/)

> [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/)

[Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/)

> [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/)

[Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/)

> [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/)

[Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/)

[Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When mankind first saw the necessity of government, it is probable that many had conceived the desire of ruling.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas Clarkson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/when-mankind-first-saw-the-necessity-of-government-it-is-probable/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Desire"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/when-mankind-first-saw-the-necessity-of-government-it-is-probable/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/thomas-clarkson-46106_desire_when-mankind-first-saw-the-necessity-of_1728846.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/thomas-clarkson-46106_desire_when-mankind-first-saw-the-necessity-of_1728846.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/thomas-clarkson-46106_desire_when-mankind-first-saw-the-necessity-of_1728846.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When mankind first saw the necessity of government, it is probable that many had conceived the desire of…” — Thomas Clarkson",
                "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": "Thomas Clarkson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clarkson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When mankind first saw the necessity...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/when-mankind-first-saw-the-necessity-of-government-it-is-probable/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clarkson/when-mankind-first-saw-the-necessity-of-government-it-is-probable/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
