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A belligerent state permits itself every such misdeed, every such act of violence, as would disgrace the individual.
Sigmund Freud
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote suggests that a state can justify actions that are immoral for individuals, highlighting a double standard in moral behavior.

Sigmund Freud's quote points to the idea that a state, driven by its own interests, often engages in violent and immoral acts that would be considered disgraceful if committed by an individual. This reflects a troubling disparity in moral standards, where the collective actions of a state can overshadow individual accountability, raising questions about ethics in governance and the implications of state power on moral judgment.

Themes

StateViolenceMoralEthicsPower

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about war crimes during a political debate.

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The tendency to aggression is an innate, independent, instinctual disposition in man... it constitutes the powerful obstacle to culture.
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