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Quote by Lysander Spooner

“Any number of scoundrels, having money enough to start with, can establish themselves as a 'government'; because, with money, they can hire soldiers, and with soldiers extort more money; and also compel general obedience to their will.”

Quote by Lysander Spooner

Book:No Treason and a Letter to Thomas F. Bayard

Work

No Treason and a Letter to Thomas F. Bayard

This book is a compilation of works that delve into the author's views on political theory, focusing on the role and structure of government, and includes correspondence with Thomas F. Bayard. more

Author

Lysander Spooner

Lysander Spooner was an American philosopher, abolitionist, and legal theorist who lived from January 19, 1808, to May 14, 1887. He is recognized for his contributions to the philosophy of individual rights and his advocacy for the abolition of slavery. Spooner's work has had a profound impact on the fields of law and philosophy. more

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“To deprive mankind of their natural right and power of creating wealth for themselves, is as great a tyranny as it is to rob them of it after they have created it. And this is done by all laws against honest banking.”

Done Law Natural Wealth Mankind Honest Creating Tyranny Banking Creating Wealth

Book:A New Banking System: the Needful Capital for Rebuilding the Burnt District

Source: A New Banking System: the Needful Capital for Rebuilding the Burnt District

“A married woman has the same natural right to acquire and hold property, and to make all contracts that she is mentally competent to make reasonably, as has a married man, or any other man.”

Men Natural Married Property Acquire Contracts Competent Natural Rights Married Man Married Women

Book:The collected works of Lysander Spooner

Source: The collected works of Lysander Spooner

“But that the people are stronger than the government, and will resist in extreme cases, our governments would be little or nothing else than organized systems of plunder and oppression.”

People Littles Government Would Be Cases Stronger Extremes Oppression Organized Plunder

Book:An Essay on the Trial by Jury

Source: An Essay on the Trial by Jury

“It is a natural impossibility for any man to make a binding contract, by which he shall surrender to others a single one of what are commonly called his 'natural, inherent, inalienable rights.'”

Men Natural Rights Surrender Contracts Inherent Impossibility Binding Inalienable Rights

Book:The collected works of Lysander Spooner

Source: The collected works of Lysander Spooner

“It is manifest that the only security against the tyranny of the government lies in forcible resistance to the execution of the injustice; because the injustice will certainly be executed, unless it be forcibly resisted.”

Government Lying Security Injustice Tyranny Resistance Manifest Execution Government Lies

Book:An Essay on the Trial by Jury

Source: An Essay on the Trial by Jury

“Majorities, as such, afford no guarantees for justice. They are men of the same nature as minorities. They have the same passions for fame, power, and money, as minorities; and are liable and likely to be equally - perhaps more than equally, because more boldly - rapacious, tyrannical and unprincipled, if intrusted with power.”

Ifs Men Passion Justice Fame Majority Guarantees Minorities Liable

Book:The collected works of Lysander Spooner

Source: The collected works of Lysander Spooner

“The apology, that is constantly put forth for the injustice of government, viz., that a man must consent to give up some of his rights, in order to have his other rights protected - involves a palpable absurdity, both legally and politically.”

Men Giving Government Order Rights Giving Up Injustice Apology Protected Absurdity Consent

Book:The Unconstitutionality of Slavery

Source: The Unconstitutionality of Slavery

“The rescue of a person, who is assaulted, or restrained of his liberty, without authority of law, is not only morally, but legally, a meritorious act; for every body is under obligation to go to the assistance of one who is assailed by assassins, robbers, ravishers, kidnappers, or ruffians of any kind.”

Kind Persons Body Law Liberty Authority Obligation Rescue Assistance Assassins Robbers Ruffian

Book:A Defence for Fugitive Slaves

Source: A Defence for Fugitive Slaves

“The very idea of law originates in men's natural rights. There is no other standard, than natural rights, by which civil law can be measured. Law has always been the name of that rule or principle of justice, which protects those rights. Thus we speak of natural law.”

Men Ideas Law Names Speak Natural Justice Principles Rights Protect Standards Natural Law Natural Rights

Book:The Unconstitutionality of Slavery

Source: The Unconstitutionality of Slavery

“What is the motive to the secret ballot? This, and only this: Like other confederates in crime, those who use it are not friends, but enemies; and they are afraid to be known, and to have their individual doings known, even to each other.”

Use Individual Secret Known Enemy Crime Motive Ballots Doings Confederate Not Friends

Book:No Treason

Source: No Treason