what do u think this quote means:
"government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil"
- Thomas Paine
2006-09-03 11:57:24 · 9 answers · asked by flowergrl0818 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
It means that government is necessary for society, but it has many bad aspects.
2006-09-03 12:03:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well,
what paine was referring to was the inherrent nature of government to control the lives of its citizens, to be an enslaving big brotheresque entity. In rights of man, he states that political association is against the liberty of the individual.But he also states that the nation is the source of all soveriegnty and no man or group of men can take power from it. Thus, what is the representative of a nation but its government. A collection of people or just one person to administer the entire nation. This of course goes against the third law.
What he is really calling for is a change in the individual.
When he asked robespierre to bring the king of france to the united states to "work for a living",he queried for this change.
What is the need for government when every man is his own nation.Free of thought yet equal in purpose.
Would not that be truly good?
2006-09-03 19:13:38 · answer #2 · answered by Monsignor Klaatu 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That there can be no good governments, only good people. If the people are not vigilant in protecting their rights, then there will always be a government waiting in the wings to take them away, all for our own good.
2006-09-03 19:12:23 · answer #3 · answered by Rebecca B 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i think that it means even when the government is at its best (like helping or whatever) is evil. so the government is not necessarily good.
2006-09-03 19:26:10 · answer #4 · answered by Jasmine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that government is not perfect but we need it in our society.
2006-09-03 19:12:56 · answer #5 · answered by daca_moracca 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it means government is needed to control things but at times they take advantage of being in power and become corrupt and abuse the power
2006-09-03 21:27:02 · answer #6 · answered by Jen 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
though we don't like government, we need them to function in the society
2006-09-03 19:28:14 · answer #7 · answered by gangico 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
goverment is good but yet bad???
2006-09-03 19:04:19 · answer #8 · answered by Emo_Gurl™ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that is confusing and i have no idea
2006-09-03 19:02:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋