The meaning I derive from that statement is that terms like "government" and "the state" refer to things that do not exist in the collection of mass, energy, an

The meaning I derive from that statement is that terms like "government" and "the state" refer to things that do not exist in the collection of mass, energy, and quantum whatevers that we call "the universe"... they are simply concepts in the minds of people, and are not capable of interacting with "the universe" except through the people in whose minds they exist. Thus it is never "the government" oppressing people... it is people oppressing people. Similarly it is never "the government" helping people... it is only people helping people. The moral and/or ethical implications of this concept are significant, as it "pierces the veil" of the idea that the actors are somehow absolved from their actions because they are in the name of "the government".