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About this quote

What does it mean?
Granting government power to do good inevitably grants it power to do harm.
In plain terms
You cannot give government power for good without also allowing it to do bad things.
What can you take from it?
Understand that state power has dual-use potential.

Where it applies

  • policy debate
  • legislation
  • rights protection

Putting it to work

  • limit scope
  • demand oversight

Questions to consider

  • What risks come with power?
  • How do you limit it?

Another view

Some coordinated actions require centralized power.

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