"If men were angels, no government would be necessary."
Simplified meaning
People are not perfect, and because of this, they need rules and leadership to keep everything in order. Imagine a classroom with children. If every kid was always well-behaved, listened to the teacher, and respected each other, the teacher wouldn’t need to set rules or step in to manage the class. However, because children sometimes make mistakes or misbehave, the teacher needs to establish rules and guidelines to ensure everyone can learn and get along.
Similarly, in society, people don’t always act in everyone’s best interest. So, governments are created to set laws, make sure people follow them, and protect the rights and safety of all citizens. Without these laws and leaders, society could become chaotic and unsafe because not everyone would act responsibly. This is why we need governments—to help manage and maintain order, providing a structure where people can live together in harmony.
Related tags
Checks and balances Government Human nature Idealism Law Morality Philosophy Politics Self-governance Society
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