The secret ballot makes a secret government; and a secret government is a secret band of robbers and murderers. — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
All governments, the worst on earth, and the most tyrannical on earth, are free governments to that portion of the people who… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
A slave government is an oligarchy; and one, too, of the most arbitrary and criminal character. — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
“No man can rightfully be required to join, or support, an association whose protection he does not desire.” — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
No government knows any limits to its power except the endurance of the people. — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
The only idea they have ever manifested as to what is a government of consent, is this - that it is one… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
These so-called governments are in reality only great bands of robbers and murderers, organized, disciplined, and constantly on the alert. — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
Government is in reality established by the few; and these few assume the consent of all the rest, without any such consent… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
All these cries of having "abolished slavery," of having "saved the country," of having "preserved the union," of establishing a "government of… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
Any number of scoundrels, having money enough to start with, can establish themselves as a 'government'; because, with money, they can hire… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
The apology, that is constantly put forth for the injustice of government, viz., that a man must consent to give up some… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
Taking a man's money without his consent, is also as much robbery, when it is done by millions of men, acting in… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
All legitimate government is a mutual insurance company, voluntarily agreed upon by the parties to it, for the protection of their rights… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
But whether the Constitution really be one thing, or another, this much is certain - that it has either authorized such a… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
For a government to declare a vice to be a crime, and to punish it as such, is an attempt to falsify… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
A government that can at pleasure accuse, shoot, and hang men, as traitors, for the one general offence of refusing to surrender… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
Our constitutions purport to be established by 'the people,' and, in theory, 'all the people' consent to such government as the constitutions… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
If it be said that the consent of the strongest party in a nation, is all that is necessary to justify the… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
It is with government paper, and bank paper, as it is with the paper of private persons; that is, it is worth… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
No principle, that is possible to be named, can be more self-evidently false than this; or more self-evidently fatal to all political… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
And the men who loan money to governments, so called, for the purpose of enabling the latter to rob, enslave, and murder… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
The Rothschilds, and that class of money-lenders of whom they are the representatives and agents - men who never think of lending… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
If taxation without consent is robbery, the United States government has never had, has not now, and is never likely to have,… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
The principle that the majority have a right to rule the minority, practically resolves all government into a mere contest between two… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
Those who deny the right of a jury to protect an individual in resisting an unjust law of the government, deny him… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
If any man's money can be taken by a so-called government, without his own personal consent, all his other rights are taken… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
The fact is that the government, like a highwayman, says to a man: Your money, or your life. And many, if not… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
The trial by jury is a trial by 'the country,' in contradistinction to a trial by the government. The jurors are drawn… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
But for their right to judge of the law, and the justice of the law, juries would be no protection to an… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
That no government, so called, can reasonably be trusted, or reasonably be supposed to have honest purposes in view, any longer than… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
If a jury have not the right to judge between the government and those who disobey its laws, and resist its oppressions,… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
All, or nearly all, the advantage there is in fixing any constitutional limits to the power of a government, is simply to… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
Now it is clear, that if the government can exclude, on account either of their opinions or feelings, any persons thus drawn… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
The right of revolution, which tyrants, in mockery, accord to mankind, is no legal right under a government; it is only a… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
It is manifest that the only security against the tyranny of the government lies in forcible resistance to the execution of the… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
The principle, on which the war was waged by the North, was simply this: That men may rightfully be compelled to submit… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
Any government, that is its own judge of, and determines authoritatively for the people, what are its own powers over the people,… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
But that the people are stronger than the government, and will resist in extreme cases, our governments would be little or nothing… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
Justice is the object of government, and those who support the government, must be agreed as to the justice to be executed… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
The right and the physical power of the people to resist injustice, are really the only securities that any people ever can… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
Slavery, if it can be legalized at all, can be legalized only by positive legislation. Natural law gives it no aid. Custom imparts to… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share
The greatest of all crimes are the wars that are carried on by governments, to plunder, enslave, and destroy mankind. — Lysander Spooner Copy Share
Those who deny the right of a jury to protect an individual in resisting an unjust law of the government, deny him all defence… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share
I was put into jail as I was going to the shoemaker's to get a shoe which was mended. When I was let out… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share
The single despot stands out in the face of all men, and says: I am the State: My will is law: I am your… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share
The Rothschilds, and that class of money-lenders of whom they are the representatives and agents - men who never think of lending a shilling… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share
Who are ever taxed? Individuals only. Who have property that can be taxed? Individuals only. Who can give their consent to be taxed? Individuals… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share
Practically and commercially speaking, a dollar is not necessarily a specific thing, made of silver, or gold, or any other single metal, or substance.… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share
If the jury have no right to judge of the justice of a law of the government, they plainly can do nothing to protect… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share
If it be said that the consent of the strongest party in a nation, is all that is necessary to justify the establishment of… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share
In reality there is no such thing as an inflation of prices, relatively to gold. There is such a thing as a depreciated paper… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share
And there is no difference, in principle - but only in degree - between political and chattel slavery. The former, no less than the… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share
The Constitution has no inherent authority or obligation. It has no authority or obligation at all, unless as a contract between man and man.… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share
These so-called governments are in reality only great bands of robbers and murderers, organized, disciplined, and constantly on the alert. — Lysander Spooner Copy Share
