"Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one; for when we suffer or are exposed to the same miseries by a government, which we might expect in a country without government, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer." - Common Sense, January 10, 1776
"Some writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins. Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness POSITIVELY by uniting our affections, the latter NEGATIVELY by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first a patron, the last a punisher." - Common Sense, January 10, 1776
Source of both quotes: http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/thomas-paine-quotes-1.html
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This is an introspective quote about the difference between society and government, and I have been thinking about it since you put it up a week ago.
ReplyDeleteThe combining of the two, government and society, may then guide us to The Golden Rule...(even a blending of mercy and justice) maintaining a balance and a prospective.
Government only, would teach us that we cannot be selfish, but inherently would provide that same vice by coercion...whereas, society would teach us that we are each important and inherently capable of blessing others because of our own desires for good. (Although the obvious overlap is great depending on the person and the program).
Bottom line is the absolute necessity for incividual agency/freedom. When people choose to help each other it blesses everyone, when the government mandates our feelings and our individual choices (our work and our resources)then we implode under it's weight and without heart any society is weakened.