My personal view is that such total planning by the state is an absolute good and not simply a relative good... I do not myself think of the attitude I take as deriving from Marx - though this undoubtedly will be suggested - but from Fichte and Hegel.

The quote "My personal view is that such total planning by the state is an absolute good and not simply a relative good... I do not myself think of the attitude I take as deriving from Marx - though this undoubtedly will be suggested - but from Fichte and Hegel." by John Grierson expresses a strong belief in the value of comprehensive state planning. Grierson argues that planning by the state is not just somewhat beneficial, but an "absolute good," meaning it is fundamentally positive and essential for society. This reveals his confidence in the power of organized, centralized control to shape social and economic outcomes effectively.

The origin of this quote reflects Grierson’s intellectual influences and political stance. While many might assume his ideas come from Karl Marx due to the focus on state planning, Grierson clarifies that his philosophy is more aligned with the German idealist thinkers Johann Gottlieb Fichte and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. These philosophers emphasized the role of the state in realizing ethical and social order, which informs Grierson’s perspective on the importance of planned governance.

Grierson’s distinction also shows his broader view of state intervention as not merely an economic tool but as a moral and philosophical principle. By referencing Fichte and Hegel, he connects the idea of planning to a tradition that values the state as an active agent in shaping human progress, beyond just class struggle or economic theories associated with Marxism.

In summary, the quote highlights Grierson’s belief in the absolute importance of state planning and clarifies the philosophical roots of his views. It underlines the idea that effective governance and social order require deliberate, comprehensive planning inspired by classical philosophical ideas rather than solely Marxist thought.