Absolutes Quote by Benjamin Tucker
“Aggression is simply another name for government. Aggression, invasion, government, are interconvertible terms. The essence of government is control, or the attempt to control. He who attempts to control another is a governor, an aggressor, an invader; and the nature of such invasion is not changed, whether it is made by one man upon another man, after the manner of the ordinary criminal, or by one man upon all other men, after the manner of an absolute monarch, or by all other men upon one man, after the manner of a modern democracy.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Liberty and Property, 1865
Government is framed as a form of aggression, where control over others equates to invasion, regardless of the political system.
In simple terms: Government equals control and aggression.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and resist undue control.
Themes
politics
power
freedom
Mood
critical
defiant
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- activism
- voting
- community organizing
- legal challenges
Key Concepts
anarchism
authority
coercion
Questions to Reflect On
- How does society justify control as protection?
- When does resistance become rebellion?
A Different Perspective
Control can be subtle and justified by law, making resistance difficult.
![“Undertaking initially to protect its citizens against aggression, [government] has often itself become … a far greater aggressor.” quote by John Hospers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e84/john-hospers-30604_aggression_undertaking-initially-to-protect-its-cit_2534835.jpg)
![“Their [the U.S.’s] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as ‘their home — their fortress.’ And good for them, I say. Well done!” quote by Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ec3/vladimir-putin-261_absolutes_their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolu_10791.jpg)
