Dominion Quote by Walter Lippmann
“It was in the recognition that there is in each man a final essence, that is to say an immortal soul which only God can judge, that a limit was set upon the dominion of men over men.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Spirit of Democracy", 1942
He argues that humans possess an immortal soul judged only by God, limiting human authority over one another.
In simple terms: Divine judgment caps human power over others.
Key Takeaway
Respect the moral limits of authority.
Themes
ethics
spirituality
authority
Mood
contemplative
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- lawmaking
- leadership
- interpersonal conflict
- policy making
Key Concepts
theology
human dignity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does belief in an immortal soul affect justice?
- Can moral limits be defined without religion?
A Different Perspective
Relying on unseen divine judgment can be vague for concrete governance.
![“The belief in the immortality of man is the belief in the divinity of man[.]” quote by Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/221/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_death_the-belief-in-the-immortality-of-man-is_1273157.jpg)
![“The thing that was forfeited in the garden was regained. God gave him [Adam] dominion over the works of His hand. God made him His understudy, His king to rule over everything that had life. Man was master, man lived in the realm of god. He lived on terms of equality with God. God was a faith God…” quote by John G. Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/428/john-g-lake-12667_adam_the-thing-that-was-forfeited-in-the-gard_84356.jpg)
![“It may be said of them [the Hollanders], as of the Spaniards, that the sun never sets upon their Dominions.” quote by Thomas Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e12/thomas-gage-63372_dominion_it-may-be-said-of-them-the-hollanders-as_103053.jpg)