Common Quote by David Boaz
“One difference between libertarianism and socialism is that a socialist society can't tolerate groups of people practicing freedom, but a libertarian society can comfortably allow people to choose voluntary socialism. If a group of people - even a very large group - wanted to purchase land and own it in common, they would be free to do so. The libertarian legal order would require only that no one be coerced into joining or giving up his property.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Libertarian Mind, 2009
Libertarianism permits voluntary collective ownership as long as participation is consensual, unlike socialism which often imposes collective control.
In simple terms: Libertarians allow voluntary group ownership without coercion.
Key Takeaway
Support voluntary cooperation.
Themes
politics
freedom
property
voluntaryism
socialism
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- community land trusts
- cooperative housing
- shared resources
- mutual aid
Key Concepts
consent
coercion
collective ownership
individual rights
Questions to Reflect On
- How would you ensure consent in large groups?
- What limits exist for voluntary socialism?
A Different Perspective
Libertarian frameworks may struggle with enforcement of non‑coercion.
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
