Peter T. Leeson > Quotes

“It’s common to associate the ‘goodness’ or ‘badness’ of behaviour with the ‘goodness’ or ‘badness’ of the motivations that drive it. But the nobility or ignobility of individuals’ motivations often bears no relationship, and in some cases even exhibits an inverse relationship, to the nobility or ignobility of the outcomes these motivations create. Sometimes the basest of intentions can produce the best of outcomes.”
― Peter T. Leeson, The Invisible Hook: The Hidden Economics of Pirates

“cooked alive or forced to eat the severed ears from their own heads”
― Peter T. Leeson, The Invisible Hook: The Hidden Economics of Pirates

“although a properly constrained government may be superior to statelessness, it doesn't follow that any government is superior to no government all. If a state is highly predatory and its behavior goes unchecked, government may not only fail to add to social welfare; it may reduce welfare below its level under anarchy.”
― Peter T. Leeson, Anarchy Unbound: Why Self-Governance Works Better Than You Think

“could be doing much better. It clearly could. Nor is this to say that Somalia is better off stateless than it would be under any government. A constitutionally constrained state with limited powers to do harm but strong enough to support the private sector may very well do more for Somalia than statelessness can. Further, Somalia's improvement under anarchy doesn't tell”
― Peter T. Leeson, Anarchy Unbound: Why Self-Governance Works Better Than You Think

“are also providing new income generating and employment”
― Peter T. Leeson, Anarchy Unbound: Why Self-Governance Works Better Than You Think

“In contrast, innocent persons expect to expel the sassywood”
― Peter T. Leeson, Anarchy Unbound: Why Self-Governance Works Better Than You Think

“are also providing new income generating and employment opportunities” (UNDP 2001: 39) that have further”
― Peter T. Leeson, Anarchy Unbound: Why Self-Governance Works Better Than You Think

“clearly could. Nor is this to say that Somalia is better off stateless than it would be under any government. A constitutionally constrained state with limited powers to do harm but strong enough to support the private sector may very well do more for Somalia than statelessness can. Further, Somalia's improvement under anarchy doesn't tell”
― Peter T. Leeson, Anarchy Unbound: Why Self-Governance Works Better Than You Think