The State always moves slowly and grudgingly towards any purpose that accrues to society's advantage, but moves rapidly and with alacrity towards one that accrues to its own advantage; nor does it ever move towards social purposes on its own… — Albert J. Nock Copy Share Image
It is easy to prescribe improvement for others; it is easy to organize something, to institutionalize this or that, to pass laws, multiply bureaucratic agencies, form pressure groups, start revolutions, change forms of government, tinker at political theory. The fact… — Albert J. Nock Copy Share Image
The State, on the other hand, both in its genesis and by its primary intention, is purely anti-social. It is not based on the… — Albert J. Nock Copy Share Image
When we speak freely, let us speak plainly, for plain speech is wholesome; especially, plain speech about public affairs and public men. — Albert J. Nock Copy Share Image
The practical reason for freedom is that freedom seems to be the only condition under which any kind of substantial moral fiber can be… — Albert J. Nock Copy Share Image
Like all predatory or parasitic institutions, its first instinct is that of self-preservation. All its enterprises are directed first towards preserving its own life,… — Albert J. Nock Copy Share Image
The simple truth is that our businessmen do not want a government that will let business alone. They want a government they can use. — Albert J. Nock Copy Share Image
Above all things the mass-mind is most bitterly resentful of superiority. It will not tolerate the thought of an elite; and under a political… — Albert J. Nock Copy Share Image
By consequence I hold that no one ever did, or can do, anything for "society."... Comte invented the term altruism as an antonym for… — Albert J. Nock Copy Share Image
It is certainly true that whatever a man may do or say, the most significant thing about him is what he thinks; and significant… — Albert J. Nock Copy Share Image
The positive testimony of history is that the State invariably had its origin in conquest and confiscation. No primitive State known to history originated… — Albert J. Nock Copy Share Image
Instead of recognizing the State as ‘the common enemy of all well-disposed, industrious and decent men,’ the run of mankind, with rare exceptions, regards… — Albert J. Nock Copy Share Image
There are two methods, or means, and only two, whereby man's needs and desires can be satisfied. One is the production and exchange of… — Albert J. Nock Copy Share Image
Personal publicity of every kind is utterly distasteful to me, and I have made greater efforts to escape it than most people make to… — Albert J. Nock Copy Share Image
