The good of the people must be the great purpose of government. By the laws of nature and of reason, the governors are invested with power to that end. And the greatest good of the people is liberty. It is to the state what health is to the individual.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Government exists to serve the people, with liberty as its highest good.
- In plain terms
- The state should protect freedom like health protects a person.
- What can you take from it?
- Liberty is the main purpose of government.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What makes a government legitimate?
- How do we balance liberty and security?
Another view
Governments often serve other interests first.
More from Denis Diderot
Power acquired by violence is only a usurpation, and lasts only as long as the force of him who commands prevails over that of those who obey.
Permalink to quote #40 Reason is to the philosopher what grace is to the Christian. Grace causes the Christian to act, reason the philosopher. Other men are carried away by their pas…
Permalink to quote #42 No man has received from nature the right to give orders to others. Freedom is a gift from heaven, and every individual of the same species has the right to en…
Permalink to quote #39
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