A learned society of our day, no doubt with the loftiest of intentions, has proposed the question, “Which people, in history, might have been the happiest?” If I properly understand the question, and if it is not altogether beyond the scope of a human answer, I can think of nothing to say except that at a certain time and under certain circumstances every people must have experienced such a moment or else it never was [a people]. Then again, human nature is no vessel for an absolute, independent, immutable happiness, as defined by the philosopher; rather, she everywhere draws as much happiness towards herself as she can: a supple clay that will conform to the most different situations, needs, and depressions. Even the image of happiness changes with every condition and location (for what is it ever but the sum of “the satisfaction of desire, the fulfillment of purpose, and the gentle overcoming of needs, ” all of which are shaped by land, time, and place?). Basically, then, all comparison becomes futile. As soon as the inner meaning of happiness, the inclination has changed; as soon as external opportunities and needs develop and solidify the other meaning–who could compare the different satisfaction of different meanings in different worlds? Who could compare the shepherd and father of the Orient, the ploughman and the artisan, the seaman, runner, conqueror of the world? It is not the laurel wreath that matters, nor the sight of the blessed flock, neither the merchant vessels nor the conquered armies’ standards–but the soul that needed this, strove for it, finally attained it and wanted to attain nothing else. Every nation has its center of happiness within itself, as every ball has its center of gravity! .Johann Gottfried Herder
About This Quote
In the novel "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens, Mr. Guillotine is a French official who executes people in public. As he executes people, he says "I am the state." In this quote, "The state" means the government and the people. Mr.
Guillotine is not working for himself and instead is fulfilling his duties as a representative of the state and carrying out his duties as a representative of the state. He is motivated by his desire to protect the citizens of France and he feels that it is his job to protect them even if it means killing them. When he says that he is doing what he was created to do, that he has been created to kill people, the executioner is saying that his actions are necessary for society and because of that society needs him.
Source: Another Philosophy Of History And Selected Political Writings
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