Quote by Henry David Thoreau

There will never be a really free and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly. I please myself with imagining a State at last which can afford to be just to all men, and to treat the individual with respect as a neighbor; which even would not think it inconsistent with its own repose if a few went to live aloof from it, not meddling with it, nor embraced by it, who fulfilled all the duties of neighbors and fellow-men. A State which bore this kind of fruit, and suffered it to drop off as fast as it ripened, would prepare the way for a still more perfect and glorious State, which also I have imagined, but not yet anywhere seen.

Summary

This quote suggests that a truly free and enlightened society can only exist when the state acknowledges the individual's inherent power and treats them with respect and autonomy. The ideal state described here is one that is fair to all people, recognizing their individuality, and not forcing them to conform but welcoming those who choose to live apart as long as they fulfill their personal responsibilities and uphold the principles of being good neighbors. Such a state, which values individual liberties and promotes harmony, would pave the way for an even more perfect and extraordinary society that is yet to be seen.