It is a false and dangerous situation which bases public power on private want, and roots the grandeur of the State in the suffering of the individual. It is a badly constituted grandeur which combines all the material elements, and into which no moral element enters.

Summary

This quote suggests that the current situation, where public power is dependent on private desires, is both misleading and harmful. It criticizes a system that thrives on the suffering of individuals and creates a false sense of grandeur solely focused on material possessions. The quote argues that true grandeur should not be solely based on material wealth, but should also incorporate moral values and principles.

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