Carl Schmitt Quotes

• Every actual democracy rests on the principle that not only are equals equal but unequals will not be treated equally.Democracy requires, therefore, first homogeneity and second—if the need arises elimination or eradication of heterogeneity.

  Carl Schmitt

  Equality, Political, Democracy

  85 Copy quote

• Tell me who your enemy is, and I will tell you who you are.

  Carl Schmitt

  Romantic, Famous Love, Best Love

  Carl Schmitt (2007). “Theory of the Partisan: Intermediate Commentary on the Concept of the Political”, p.85, Telos Press Publishing

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• The essence of liberalism is negotiation, a cautious half measure, in the hope that the definitive dispute, the decisive bloody battle, can be transformed into a parliamentary debate and permit the decision to be suspended forever in an everlasting discussion.

  Carl Schmitt

  Essence, Decision, Forever

  Carl Schmitt (2010). “Political Theology: Four Chapters on the Concept of Sovereignty”, p.63, University of Chicago Press

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• The specific political distinction to which political actions and motives can be reduced is that between friend and enemy.

  Carl Schmitt

  Political, Enemy, Action

  Carl Schmitt (2008). “The Concept of the Political: Expanded Edition”, p.26, University of Chicago Press

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• A world state which which embraces the entire globe and all of humanity cannot exist. The political world is a pluriverse, not a universe.

  Carl Schmitt

  Political, Humanity, World

  Carl Schmitt (2008). “The Concept of the Political: Expanded Edition”, p.53, University of Chicago Press

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• Sovereign is he who decides on the exception.

  Carl Schmitt

  Sovereign, Exception

  Carl Schmitt (2010). “Political Theology: Four Chapters on the Concept of Sovereignty”, p.44, University of Chicago Press

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• The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of economic imperialism. Here one is reminded of a somewhat modified expression of Proudhon’s: whoever invokes humanity wants to cheat. To confiscate the word humanity, to invoke and monopolize such a term probably has certain incalculable effects, such as denying the enemy the quality of being human and declaring him to be an outlaw of humanity; and a war can thereby be driven to the most extreme inhumanity.

  Carl Schmitt

  War, Expression, Humanity

  Carl Schmitt (2008). “The Concept of the Political: Expanded Edition”, p.54, University of Chicago Press

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• The exception is more interesting than the rule. The rule proves nothing; the exception proves everything. In the exception the power of real life breaks through the crust of a mechanism that has become torpid by repetition.

  Carl Schmitt

  Real, Break Through, Interesting

  Carl Schmitt (2010). “Political Theology: Four Chapters on the Concept of Sovereignty”, p.15, University of Chicago Press

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• All significant concepts of the modern theory of the state are secularized theological concepts.

  Carl Schmitt

  Modern, Significant, States

  Carl Schmitt (2010). “Political Theology: Four Chapters on the Concept of Sovereignty”, p.41, University of Chicago Press

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• All law is situational law. The sovereign produces and guarantees the situation in its totality. He has the monopoly over this last decision.

  Carl Schmitt

  Law, Decision, Guarantees

  Carl Schmitt (2010). “Political Theology: Four Chapters on the Concept of Sovereignty”, p.13, University of Chicago Press

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• When will we learn that childhood is in a great sense not simply a preparation for adult life but a thing unique and complete in itself—a masterpiece of God.

  Carl Schmitt

  Unique, Childhood, Preparation

  Carl Schmitt, Samuel Armstrong Schmitt (2012). “Carl Schmitt: The Vision of Beauty”, p.98, Scepter Publishers

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• The metaphysical image that a definite epoch forges of the world has the same structure as what the world immediately understands to be appropriate as a form of its political organization.

  Carl Schmitt

  Organization, Political, World

  "Political Theology: Four Chapters on the Concept of Sovereignty", by Carl Schmitt, translated by George Schwab, Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1985.

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• I want to paint a canvasthat will be nothing but harmonious tone.

  Carl Schmitt

  Want, Tone, Paint

  Carl Schmitt, Samuel Armstrong Schmitt (2012). “Carl Schmitt: The Vision of Beauty”, p.10, Scepter Publishers

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