“The state should be our servant and not we its slaves. The state transgresses this commandment when it compels us by force to engage in military and war service, the more so since the object and the effect of this slavish service is to kill people belonging to other countries or interfere with their freedom of development.”
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Probable attribution
A source trail connects this quotation to Albert Einstein and Ideas and Opinions, but the exact English wording has not been confirmed in a primary text. The attribution is therefore probable rather than definitive.
Likely origin: Ideas and Opinions
About this quote
This page records the wording "The state should be our servant and not we its…," which centers on state, servant, slaves. A concrete trail points toward Einstein, but the exact English form remains unconfirmed; the page therefore labels it as attributed to him while preserving its justice and life context.
When to use it
- Use "The state should be our servant and not we its…" in a justice discussion, then ask which concrete claim the wording makes.
- Compare its treatment of state with servant in a lesson, essay, or editorial note before drawing a conclusion.
- Before sharing it as Einstein's exact words, display the attribution caveat and follow the evidence link recorded on the page.