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About this quote

What does it mean?
Louis XIV claimed absolute authority, stating that the state's power is identical to his own personal will.
In plain terms
I am the state, meaning my power is the government.
What can you take from it?
Absolute monarchy concentrates all state power in one person.

Where it applies

  • historical politics
  • government structure
  • leadership analysis

Putting it to work

  • study absolute monarchy
  • analyze power concentration
  • read history

Questions to consider

  • How is power legitimized in governments?
  • What happens when leader and state merge?

Another view

This view ignores the role of institutions and the people in governance.

More from Louis XIV of France

  1. Il n'y a plus de Pyrenees.

    Permalink to quote #1
  2. J'ai failli attendre.

    Permalink to quote #3
  3. Je m'en vais, mais l'Etat demeurera toujours...

    Permalink to quote #4

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