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Quote by 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.”

Book:The Unconstitutionality of Slavery

Work

The Unconstitutionality of Slavery

This book delves into the historical and philosophical debates surrounding the constitutionality of slavery, exploring the arguments and counterarguments made by various figures and legal documents of the time. 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

“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

“A man's 'original and natural right' to make all contracts that are 'intrinsically obligatory,' and to coerce the fulfillment of them, is one of the most valuable and indispensable of all human possessions.”

Men Humans Natural Originals Possession Valuable Fulfillment Contracts Indispensable Coerce

Book:A Letter to Grover Cleveland on His False Inaugural Address, the Usurpation and Crimes of Lawmakers and Judges, and Consequent Poverty, Ignorance, and Servitude of the People

Source: A Letter to Grover Cleveland on His False Inaugural Address, the Usurpation and Crimes of Lawmakers and Judges, and Consequent Poverty, Ignorance, and Servitude of the People

“All know the importance of sustaining the hopes of a sick man. The reason of this is that his nervous system is then, vastly more than in health, susceptible to the influence of particular states of the mind.”

Knows Men Mind States Reason Influence Particular Sick Importance Nervous Nervous System Sustaining Susceptible Sick Man

Book:The collected works of Lysander Spooner

Source: The collected works of Lysander Spooner

“All, or nearly all, the advantage there is in fixing any constitutional limits to the power of a government, is simply to give notice to the government of the point at which it will meet with resistance.”

Giving Government Limits Advantage Resistance Fixing

Book:An Essay on the Trial by Jury

Source: An Essay on the Trial by Jury

“Any rule, not existing in the nature of things, or that is not permanent, universal and inflexible in its application, is no law, according to any correct definition of the term law.”

Law Term Universal Definitions Permanent Application

Book:The Unconstitutionality of Slavery

Source: The Unconstitutionality of Slavery