It is self-evident that no number of men, by conspiring, and calling themselves a government, can acquire any rights whatever over other… — 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
A man's natural rights are his own, against the whole world; and any infringement of them is equally a crime, whether committed… — 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
Vices are simply the errors which a man makes in his search after his own happiness. Unlike crimes, they imply no malice… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
Man, no doubt, owes many other moral duties to his fellow men; such as to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
A married woman has the same natural right to acquire and hold property, and to make all contracts that she is mentally… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
Doing a thing by law, or according to law, is only carrying the law into execution. And punishing a man by, or… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
If men were but to read the New Testament with the same tone and emphasis, with which they do other books, and… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
Doubtless the most miserable of men, under the most oppressive government in the world, if allowed the ballot, would use it, if… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
If two individuals enter into a contract to commit trespass, theft, robbery or murder upon a third, the contract is unlawful and… — 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
A man who is without capital, and who, by prohibitions upon banking, is practically forbidden to hire any, is in a condition… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
Jesus never instructed men to do what was right because it was right; yet this is the true reason why they should… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
A man is none the less a slave because he is allowed to choose a new master once in a term of… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
Men's moral principles are weak enough without their being made subordinate to selfishness; and their selfishness is quite active enough, without any… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
Vices are those acts by which a man harms himself or his property. Crimes are those acts by which one man harms… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
It is self-evident that no number of men, by conspiring, and calling themselves a government, can acquire any rights whatever over other… — 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 Image
The greatest of all crimes are the wars that are carried on by governments, to plunder, enslave, and destroy mankind. — 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 all defence… — Lysander Spooner Copy Share Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
