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About this quote

What does it mean?
Corporations inside a larger state can be harmful, like parasites in a body.
In plain terms
Big companies inside a country can hurt it like worms hurt a human body.
What can you take from it?
Be wary of powerful subgroups that may harm the larger whole.

Where it applies

  • governance
  • regulation
  • business ethics

Putting it to work

  • regulate monopolies
  • monitor corporate influence

Questions to consider

  • How do organizations serve the whole?
  • When does a group become harmful?

Another view

Corporations can also provide essential goods and services to the state.

More from Thomas Hobbes

  1. Another doctrine repugnant to civil society, is that whatsoever a man does against his conscience, is sin; and it dependeth on the presumption of making himsel…

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  2. For a mans Conscience, and his Judgement is the same thing; and as the Judgement, so also the Conscience may be erroneous.

    Permalink to quote #39
  3. The source of every crime, is some defect of the understanding; or some error in reasoning; or some sudden force of the passions.

    Permalink to quote #36

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