“One essential of a free government is that it rest wholly on voluntary support. And one certain proof that a government is not free, is that it coerces more or less persons to support it, against their will. All governments, the worst on earth, and the most tyrannical on earth, are free governments to that portion of the people who voluntarily support them. And all governments—though the best on earth in other respects—are nevertheless tyrannies to that portion of the people—whether few or many—who are compelled to support them against their will. A government is like a church, or any other institution, in these respects. There is no other criterion whatever, by which to determine whether a government is a free one, or not, than the single one of its depending, or not depending, solely on voluntary support.”
―
No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority
Share this quote:
Friends Who Liked This Quote
To see what your friends thought of this quote, please sign up!
12 likes
All Members Who Liked This Quote
This Quote Is From
No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority
by
Lysander Spooner1,137 ratings, average rating, 110 reviews
Browse By Tag
- love (101620)
- life (79581)
- inspirational (76017)
- humor (44426)
- philosophy (31077)
- inspirational-quotes (28962)
- god (26953)
- truth (24789)
- wisdom (24709)
- romance (24407)
- poetry (23356)
- life-lessons (22663)
- quotes (21171)
- death (20591)
- happiness (19065)
- travel (18677)
- hope (18585)
- faith (18455)
- inspiration (17348)
- spirituality (15761)
- relationships (15683)
- life-quotes (15620)
- religion (15414)
- love-quotes (15398)
- motivational (15356)
- writing (14962)
- success (14207)
- motivation (13208)
- time (12893)
- motivational-quotes (12616)










