Si l’Etat est fort, il nous ecrase, s’il est faible, nous perissons.

[If the state is strong, it crushes us. If it is weak, we perish.]

Paul Valéry (1871-1945) French poet, critic, author, polymath
Reflections on the World Today [Regards sur le monde actuel], “Fluctuations sur la liberté” (1931)

Alt trans.:

  • "If power is too strong, it overwhelms us, if it is too weak, we perish."
  • "If the state is strong, we are annihilated; if it is weak, we perish."
  • "When the state is strong it will crush us, when it is weak, we perish."

 
Added on 13-Jun-12 | Last updated 14-Jun-12
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