Full Idea
The state consists of the march of God in the world, and its basis is the power of reason actualising itself as will.
Gist of Idea
The state is the march of God in the world
Source
Georg W.F.Hegel (Elements of the Philosophy of Right [1821], 258)
Book Reference
Hegel,Georg W.F.: 'Elements of the Philosophy of Right', ed/tr. Wood,Allen W. [CUP 1991], p.279
A Reaction
The most notorious sentence in the whole book. See Wiki article on it. The hair-raising aspect of it is that God won't tell us where the state is going, so those in charge will decide that for us. God gives their preferences maximum authority.