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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums"Every country gets the government it deserves."
Often quoted, once to our President Jefferson.
In my opinion it means that if you dont fight your butt off for what you want, you will get scraps.
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"Every country gets the government it deserves." (Original Post)
tavernier
Jan 2022
OP
"Every nation has the government it deserves" - and the criminals, drugs and donuts...
EYESORE 9001
Jan 2022
#1
EYESORE 9001
(25,908 posts)1. "Every nation has the government it deserves" - and the criminals, drugs and donuts...
Every nation has the government it deserves.
(Toute nation a le gouvernement quelle mérite.)
Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821)
French-speaking Savoyard philosopher, writer, lawyer and diplomat
Comment in a letter he wrote in August 1811, later published in Lettres et Opuscules Inedits (1851)
Whenever Election Day draws near, I am reminded of this famous quote by Joseph de Maistre. He wrote this aphorism in 1811 when he was serving as the King of Piedmont-Sardinias envoy to Russian Czar Alexander I. At that time, Alexander was introducing reforms that were moving Russia toward a European-style constitutional government. Its ironic that Maistres quote is now commonly used to suggest that citizens should get more involved in politics, actively push for more democratic governments and rebel against tyrants. Maistre disliked democracy and believed that hereditary monarchies were a divinely-sanctioned, superior form of government. For example, he opposed the French Revolution and supported restoration of the French monarchy. And, in his 1811 letter, Maistre was actually expressing his negative views of Alexanders reform policies in Russia. He said a European-style constitutional system would be over the heads of the Russian people. One early translation of Maistres aphorism in that letter was: Every nation has the government which it is fit for. This paternalistic translation may best capture what Maistre really meant. The more familiar translation Every nation [or country] has the government it deserves is often wrongly attributed to Alexis de Tocqueville and Abraham Lincoln. They never said it. Maistre did, but what he meant by it is probably different than what most people think.
(Toute nation a le gouvernement quelle mérite.)
Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821)
French-speaking Savoyard philosopher, writer, lawyer and diplomat
Comment in a letter he wrote in August 1811, later published in Lettres et Opuscules Inedits (1851)
Whenever Election Day draws near, I am reminded of this famous quote by Joseph de Maistre. He wrote this aphorism in 1811 when he was serving as the King of Piedmont-Sardinias envoy to Russian Czar Alexander I. At that time, Alexander was introducing reforms that were moving Russia toward a European-style constitutional government. Its ironic that Maistres quote is now commonly used to suggest that citizens should get more involved in politics, actively push for more democratic governments and rebel against tyrants. Maistre disliked democracy and believed that hereditary monarchies were a divinely-sanctioned, superior form of government. For example, he opposed the French Revolution and supported restoration of the French monarchy. And, in his 1811 letter, Maistre was actually expressing his negative views of Alexanders reform policies in Russia. He said a European-style constitutional system would be over the heads of the Russian people. One early translation of Maistres aphorism in that letter was: Every nation has the government which it is fit for. This paternalistic translation may best capture what Maistre really meant. The more familiar translation Every nation [or country] has the government it deserves is often wrongly attributed to Alexis de Tocqueville and Abraham Lincoln. They never said it. Maistre did, but what he meant by it is probably different than what most people think.
http://www.quotecounterquote.com/2010/01/every-nation-has-government-it-deserves.html?m=1
tavernier
(12,368 posts)5. Interesting.
Thanks!
Silent3
(15,147 posts)2. I don't believe in group punishment
I don't deserve to suffer because of the kinds of idiots who fall for the likes of Trump. And although I will fight to prevent the mess they are making, I sure as hell shouldn't have to work so hard against idiocy and selfishness.
canetoad
(17,136 posts)3. Possibly true
But I believe this statement is what's called, "A thought terminating cliche."
DavidDvorkin
(19,468 posts)4. At best, that only applies to democracies.