There are many causes why a people politically ignorant cannot be roused to action. Perfect political ignorance must be accompanied by indifference to the general interests of society, and thus one of the most powerful motives which can act on the human mind is totally destroyed.
No government can be strong and flourishing while the national character is weak and degraded. A government must flourish and decay with its subjects; and, when a prince makes a law or performs an action which has a tendency to injure the character or prosperity of the nation, he injures himself.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A government's strength is tied to the character of its people, and harming that character ultimately harms the government itself.
The quote emphasizes the intrinsic connection between a government and the character of its citizens. It suggests that for a government to thrive, the moral and ethical standards of its populace must be strong. When leaders enact laws or take actions that detract from the national character, they not only jeopardize the wellbeing of their citizens but also threaten their own power and stability. Thus, a government is only as strong as the people it governs, highlighting the need for leaders to foster an environment that promotes virtue and strength among their subjects.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a political speech discussing the importance of national integrity.
More from Benjamin Robbins Curtis
All quotes →Whatever may be the merits of a religious system, its effects upon the mass of mankind must depend in an important degree upon its teachers. All instruction and all truth, except simple mathematical truth, is modified by the medium through which it is conveyed.
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