This paper examines the central issue of Die Idee der Staatsrason in der neuerenGeschichte (Meineckel976 [1924]) written by a German historical philosopher FriedrichMeinecke, in pursuit of limiting state power. Usually his arguments about "Staatsraon"were discussed in the context of the problem regarding the interpretation of the politicalthought of Machiavelli .But I try to present his key concepts according to his trueintention and as free from the complicated arguments about the political thought ofMachiavelli as possible. Meinecke's reflections on "Staatsrason"are still valuable for ourefforts to limit state power.