By a State I mean, a complete body of free persons united together for their common benefit, to enjoy peaceably what is their own, and to do justice to others.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A state is defined as a unified group of free people seeking common benefit and justice.
- In plain terms
- A state is a group of free people working together for peace and fairness.
- What can you take from it?
- Look for cooperation and justice when evaluating a political body.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What makes a state complete?
- How is justice defined here?
Another view
This ideal definition may not match every real world government.
More from James Wilson
Let a state be considered as subordinate to the people: But let everything else be subordinate to the state.
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Permalink to quote #5 Man, fearfully and wonderfully made, is the workmanship of his all perfect Creator: A State; useful and valuable as the contrivance is, is the inferior contriv…
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