--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most desirable state of mankind is…" description: "\"The most desirable state of mankind is that which maintains general security with the smallest encroachment upon individual independence.\" — William Go..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/william-godwin-1978_cybersecurity_the-most-desirable-state-of-mankind-is-t_268922.png" --- # The most desirable state of mankind is that which… ![“The most desirable state of mankind is that which maintains general security with the smallest encroachment upon individual independence.” quote by William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/william-godwin-1978_cybersecurity_the-most-desirable-state-of-mankind-is-t_268922.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/william-godwin-1978_cybersecurity_the-most-desirable-state-of-mankind-is-t_268922.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/william-godwin-1978_cybersecurity_the-most-desirable-state-of-mankind-is-t_268922.png) > “The most desirable state of mankind is that which maintains general security with the smallest encroachment upon individual independence.” [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. Society should ensure safety while minimizing intrusion on personal freedom. **In simple terms:** Security is best when it respects individual independence. Key Takeaway Seek governance that protects without overreaching. Themes philosophy politics rights Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - law enforcement - privacy laws - civil liberties debates Key Concepts liberty security social contract Questions to Reflect On - How can societies measure acceptable limits on freedom? - What mechanisms protect against governmental overreach? A Different Perspective Balancing security and liberty is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) ## Related quotes > [In Internet in general, there are security, privacy, and many other issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masayoshi-son/in-internet-in-general-there-are-security-privacy-and-many-other/) [Masayoshi Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masayoshi-son/) > [Unless you have economic security, then you can't have general security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shehbaz-sharif/unless-you-have-economic-security-then-you-can-t-have-general-security/) [Shehbaz Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shehbaz-sharif/) > [“And my commander always says, when we go about our business in the city, that when you look at the state of mankind you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/and-my-commander-always-says-when-we-go-about-our-business-in-the/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The natural state of mankind ... and I know that this is a controversial idea... is freedom... And the proof is the lengths to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/the-natural-state-of-mankind-and-i-know-that-this-is-a-controversial/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [Barbarism is the natural state of mankind,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/barbarism-is-the-natural-state-of-mankind/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [A lot of us don't want to be quite that serious about world problems. Our life is there to enjoy, not to be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sheckley/a-lot-of-us-don-t-want-to-be-quite-that-serious-about-world-problems/) [Robert Sheckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sheckley/) > [The state mankind are in today, is the direct inheritance of the fruits from the 'Tree of Knowledge' of Good and Evil; EGO! And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/the-state-mankind-are-in-today-is-the-direct-inheritance-of-the/) [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) > [Happiness is not the natural state of mankind, and is never achieved from the outside in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/happiness-is-not-the-natural-state-of-mankind-and-is-never-achieved/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The State is made for Mankind, not mankind for the state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-state-is-made-for-mankind-not-mankind-for-the-state/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“The invisible people knew that happiness is not the natural state of mankind, and is never achieved from the outside in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-invisible-people-knew-that-happiness-is-not-the-natural-state-of/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [A great step towards independence is a good-humored stomach, one that is willing to endure rough treatment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/a-great-step-towards-independence-is-a-good-humored-stomach-one-that/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Financial independence could be one of the factors, but most 65 plus artistes in our industry wish to continue working for the passion they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashok-saraf/financial-independence-could-be-one-of-the-factors-but-most-65-plus/) [Ashok Saraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashok-saraf/) > [The official independence celebration was going to be held over four or five days, and a group of journalists from all over the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/the-official-independence-celebration-was-going-to-be-held-over-four/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [“...the solitude was intoxicating. On my first night there I lay on my back on the sticky carpet for hours, in the murky orange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-french/the-solitude-was-intoxicating-on-my-first-night-there-i-lay-on-my/) [Tana French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-french/) > [She might be without country, without nation, but inside her there was still a being that could exist and be free, that could simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-maas/she-might-be-without-country-without-nation-but-inside-her-there-was/) [Sharon Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-maas/) ## More by William Godwin > [I know nothing worth the living for but usefulness and the service of my fellow-creatures. The only object I pursue is to increase, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/i-know-nothing-worth-the-living-for-but-usefulness-and-the-service-of/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [He that loves reading has everything within his reach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/he-that-loves-reading-has-everything-within-his-reach/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [There must be room for the imagination to exercise its powers; we must conceive and apprehend a thousand things which we do not actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/there-must-be-room-for-the-imagination-to-exercise-its-powers-we-must/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [In infamy, it is wisely provided that he who stands highest in the ranks of society has the heaviest load to sustain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/in-infamy-it-is-wisely-provided-that-he-who-stands-highest-in-the/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [No man knows the value of innocence and integrity but he who has lost them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/no-man-knows-the-value-of-innocence-and-integrity-but-he-who-has-lost/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Study with desire is real activity; without desire it is but the semblance and mockery of activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/study-with-desire-is-real-activity-without-desire-it-is-but-the/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [“Godwin on Fenelon and his Valet \* Following is an excerpt from William Godwin's Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, Book II, Chapter II: “Of Justice”:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/godwin-on-fenelon-and-his-valet-following-is-an-excerpt-from-william/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Tenderness is the name for a lover's most exquisite sensation; protection is implied in his most generous and heart-thrilling impulse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/tenderness-is-the-name-for-a-lover-s-most-exquisite-sensation/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Whenever government assumes to deliver us from the trouble of thinking for ourselves, the only consequences it produces are those of torpor and imbecility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/whenever-government-assumes-to-deliver-us-from-the-trouble-of/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [During my academical life, and from this time forward, I was indefatigable in my search after truth. I read all the authors of greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/during-my-academical-life-and-from-this-time-forward-i-was/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Was ever a great discovery prosecuted or an important benefit conferred upon the human race by him who was incapable of standing and thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/was-ever-a-great-discovery-prosecuted-or-an-important-benefit/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [The real or supposed rights of man are of two kinds, active and passive; the right in certain cases to do as we list;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/the-real-or-supposed-rights-of-man-are-of-two-kinds-active-and/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Soundness of understanding is connected with freedom of enquiry; consequently, opinion should, as far as public security will admit, be exempted from restraint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/soundness-of-understanding-is-connected-with-freedom-of-enquiry/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Power is not happiness. Security and peace are more to be desired than a man at which nations tremble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/power-is-not-happiness-security-and-peace-are-more-to-be-desired-than/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [“Strange that men, from age to age, should consent to hold their lives at the breath of another, merely that each in his turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/strange-that-men-from-age-to-age-should-consent-to-hold-their-lives/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) [Explore all 193 William Godwin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) ## More Cybersecurity quotes > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [“Every select man strives instinctively for a citadel and a privacy, where he is FREE from the crowd, the many, the majority-- where he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/every-select-man-strives-instinctively-for-a-citadel-and-a-privacy/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Our engagement through international economics, trade, these trade agreements, is vital and is linked to our national security. This is a lesson we learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/our-engagement-through-international-economics-trade-these-trade/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [“Responsibility to yourself means refusing to let others do your thinking, talking, and naming for you...it means that you do not treat your body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/responsibility-to-yourself-means-refusing-to-let-others-do-your/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [I'm OK with guns in schools, if it's a security, trained security personnel. But every teacher having a gun, I don't know if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/i-m-ok-with-guns-in-schools-if-it-s-a-security-trained-security/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [I'm also the chairman of the board of Symantec, which is the world's largest cybersecurity - software cybersecurity company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schulman/i-m-also-the-chairman-of-the-board-of-symantec-which-is-the-world-s/) [Dan Schulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schulman/) > [Our security depends on having good relationships with our allies. Donald Trump mainly shows contempt for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wolfowitz/our-security-depends-on-having-good-relationships-with-our-allies/) [Paul Wolfowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wolfowitz/) > [Fraud will always exist. Enforcement of anti-fraud laws is a useful deterrent, but in the end there's no substitute for investor vigilance. Government regulations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stossel/fraud-will-always-exist-enforcement-of-anti-fraud-laws-is-a-useful/) [John Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stossel/) > [As president, things that you're supposed to focus on, things like the economy, like energy policy, which is completely tied to national security, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-burgum/as-president-things-that-you-re-supposed-to-focus-on-things-like-the/) [Doug Burgum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-burgum/) > [The U.S. cannot impose freedom, security, and unity in Iraq by force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-defazio/the-u-s-cannot-impose-freedom-security-and-unity-in-iraq-by-force/) [Peter DeFazio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-defazio/) > [Men who have lived significant lives are men who never waited: not for money, security, ease, or women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-deida/men-who-have-lived-significant-lives-are-men-who-never-waited-not-for/) [David Deida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-deida/) > [I've always said that I benefit, as an actor, from not having the illusion of security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-sparks/i-ve-always-said-that-i-benefit-as-an-actor-from-not-having-the/) [Hal Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-sparks/) > [I don't want to have anything to do with that: just the fame without personal respect for your privacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/i-don-t-want-to-have-anything-to-do-with-that-just-the-fame-without/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [The purpose of the military is to close with and destroy the enemy on behalf of our national security priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-wilcox/the-purpose-of-the-military-is-to-close-with-and-destroy-the-enemy-on/) [Todd Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-wilcox/) [Browse all 6,947 Cybersecurity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most desirable state of mankind is that which maintains general security with the smallest encroachment upon individual independence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Godwin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/the-most-desirable-state-of-mankind-is-that-which-maintains-general/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cybersecurity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/the-most-desirable-state-of-mankind-is-that-which-maintains-general/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/william-godwin-1978_cybersecurity_the-most-desirable-state-of-mankind-is-t_268922.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/william-godwin-1978_cybersecurity_the-most-desirable-state-of-mankind-is-t_268922.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/william-godwin-1978_cybersecurity_the-most-desirable-state-of-mankind-is-t_268922.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most desirable state of mankind is that which maintains general security with the smallest encroachment…” — William Godwin", "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": "William Godwin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The most desirable state of mankind...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/the-most-desirable-state-of-mankind-is-that-which-maintains-general/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/the-most-desirable-state-of-mankind-is-that-which-maintains-general/#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 } } ] } ```