I came to see the streets and the schools as the arms of the same beast. One enjoyed the official power of the state while the other enjoyed its implicit sanction. But fear and violence were the weaponry of both.

TaNehisi Coates
About This Quote

Henry David Thoreau, a prominent American writer and philosopher, was the first to use the term “the beast” to describe the state and its relationship to society. In this quote, he is outlining how he came to realize that the state and society are one and the same. He sees the state as an oppressive force that oppresses its people by using violence and fear. He also sees society as a force that oppresses its people by using violence and fear.

Source: Between The World And Me

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