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About this quote

What does it mean?
Unlimited government is the greatest problem because no one is fit to hold such power.
In plain terms
Too much government power is dangerous because no one can handle it well.
What can you take from it?
Avoid concentrating power in few hands.

Where it applies

  • state building
  • constitutional limits

Putting it to work

  • limiting executive power
  • advocating decentralization

Questions to consider

  • Who watches the watchers?
  • Can anyone be trusted with unlimited power?

Another view

Some situations require strong centralized action.

More from Friedrich Hayek

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  3. Once wide coercive powers are given to governmental agencies for particular purposes, such powers cannot be effectively controlled by democratic assemblies.

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