No principle, that is possible to be named, can be more…
“No principle, that is possible to be named, can be more self-evidently false than this; or more self-evidently fatal to all political freedom. Yet it triumphed in the field, and is now assumed to be established. If it really be established, the number of slaves, instead of having been diminished by the war, has been greatly increased; for a man, thus subjected to a government that he does not want, is a slave.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The claim that a government can be justified even when it enslaves its citizens is fundamentally false and dangerous to liberty.
In simple terms: Governments that force obedience create slavery.
Key Takeaway
Question authority that enslaves.
Themes
political liberty
government legitimacy
slavery
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- voting decisions
- public protest
- legal challenges
- education campaigns
Key Concepts
social contract
authoritarianism
civil rights
Questions to Reflect On
- Is any government truly voluntary?
- How can societies balance order and freedom?
A Different Perspective
It ignores the complexity of consent and collective security.