--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Government can have no more than two…" description: "\"Government can have no more than two legitimate purposes - the suppression of injustice against individuals within the community, and the common defens..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/william-godwin-1978_common_government-can-have-no-more-than-two-leg_444629.png" --- # Government can have no more than two legitimate purposes… ![“Government can have no more than two legitimate purposes - the suppression of injustice against individuals within the community, and the common defense against external invasion.” quote by William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/william-godwin-1978_common_government-can-have-no-more-than-two-leg_444629.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/william-godwin-1978_common_government-can-have-no-more-than-two-leg_444629.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/william-godwin-1978_common_government-can-have-no-more-than-two-leg_444629.png) > “Government can have no more than two legitimate purposes - the suppression of injustice against individuals within the community, and the common defense against external invasion.” [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Government exists to protect individuals from injustice and defend the community from external threats. **In simple terms:** Government's role is to stop injustice and protect against invasion. Key Takeaway Ensure laws safeguard rights and security. Themes justice defense government rights security Mood serious reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - legal reform - community safety - human rights advocacy Key Concepts political philosophy social contract legitimacy Questions to Reflect On - How should a state prioritize these two purposes? - What limits should be placed on governmental power? A Different Perspective Balancing internal justice with external defense can be complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-defense/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Legitimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-legitimate-1070887/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice/) [Invasion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invasion/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Legitimate Purposes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legitimate-purposes-3892892/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Purposes Suppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purposes-suppression-3892891/) [Suppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suppression/) [Suppression Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suppression-injustice-3892893/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [ “\[T\]he suppression of injustice with greater injustice only fuels righteous indignation, which will spread even if only maintained by a righteous few.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mcdurmon/t-he-suppression-of-injustice-with-greater-injustice-only-fuels/) [Joel McDurmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mcdurmon/) > [Government has a legitimate function, but the private sector has one too, and it is superior. 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