We’re after power and we mean it. You fellows were pikers…
““We’re after power and we mean it. You fellows were pikers, but we know the real trick, and you’d better get wise to it. There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted—and you create a nation of lawbreakers—and then you cash in on guilt. Now that’s the system, Mr. Rearden, that’s the game, and once you understand it, you’ll be much easier to deal with.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Power is maintained by creating crimes, not by ruling innocent people; governments manufacture offenses to control citizens.
In simple terms: Governments create crimes to control people.
Key Takeaway
Beware laws that create criminality.
Themes
power
control
law
government
ethics
Mood
cynical
critical
analytical
Type
political
philosophical
satirical
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- legal reform
- civil rights activism
- media analysis
Key Concepts
authoritarianism
social contract
legalism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do laws shape behavior?
- When does enforcement become oppression?
A Different Perspective
Laws that are impossible to obey undermine freedom.