--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only government tolerated by…" description: "\"“The only government tolerated by libertarians is one that exercises only retaliatory use of force on anyone who initiates the use of force against any..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/john-hospers-30604_libertarians_the-only-government-tolerated-by-liberta_2776337.jpg" --- # The only government tolerated by libertarians is one that… ![“The only government tolerated by libertarians is one that exercises only retaliatory use of force on anyone who initiates the use of force against anyone else within its borders.” quote by John Hospers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/john-hospers-30604_libertarians_the-only-government-tolerated-by-liberta_2776337.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/john-hospers-30604_libertarians_the-only-government-tolerated-by-liberta_2776337.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/john-hospers-30604_libertarians_the-only-government-tolerated-by-liberta_2776337.jpg) > ““The only government tolerated by libertarians is one that exercises only retaliatory use of force on anyone who initiates the use of force against anyone else within its borders.”” [John Hospers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hospers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A libertarian state should only use force retaliator against aggressors within its borders. **In simple terms:** Force only as retaliation. Key Takeaway Advocate minimal state force. Themes political philosophy non-aggression state authority Mood analytical skeptical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - border security - self-defense policies Key Concepts libertarianism ethical governance Questions to Reflect On - What defines an initiator of force? - How to prevent abuse of retaliatory power? A Different Perspective Real-world enforcement can be ambiguous. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Libertarians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarians/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Use of force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-of-force/) ## Related quotes > [An there is always the question: is it really proven that retaliatory actions solve the security problem?.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moshe-sharett/an-there-is-always-the-question-is-it-really-proven-that-retaliatory/) [Moshe Sharett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moshe-sharett/) > [Well, I would - if they realized that we - again if - if we led them back to that stalemate only because our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/well-i-would-if-they-realized-that-we-again-if-if-we-led-them-back-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [ You can read it in history books now, but they often suppress the fact that the U.S. government tolerated \[Nazi\]. It's really remarkable because… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/you-can-read-it-in-history-books-now-but-they-often-suppress-the-fact/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I know now why confusion in government is not only tolerated but encouraged. I have learned. A confused people can make no clear demands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-know-now-why-confusion-in-government-is-not-only-tolerated-but/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Why would I strike America and invite a retaliatory counterstrike that would put an end to my regime? Keep in mind, the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-jong-un/why-would-i-strike-america-and-invite-a-retaliatory-counterstrike/) [Kim Jong-un](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-jong-un/) > [A decent and manly examination of the acts of government should not only be tolerated, but encouraged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-harrison/a-decent-and-manly-examination-of-the-acts-of-government-should-not/) [William Henry Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-harrison/) > [“Libertarianism used to have a robust left wing as well. Both disliked government. Both were driven by a fantastically nostalgic conviction that a country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-andersen/libertarianism-used-to-have-a-robust-left-wing-as-well-both-disliked/) [Kurt Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-andersen/) > [I don't agree with the libertarians. I want my security first. I'll deal with all the details after that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-lott/i-don-t-agree-with-the-libertarians-i-want-my-security-first-i-ll/) [Trent Lott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-lott/) > [Libertarians are liberals who like markets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-wilkinson/libertarians-are-liberals-who-like-markets/) Will Wilkinson > [A libertarian is a person who believes that no one has the right, under any circumstances, to initiate force against another human being, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/a-libertarian-is-a-person-who-believes-that-no-one-has-the-right/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [In order for an act to be a crime, libertarians say, someone must be harmed - there must be a victim. Anything that's peaceful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-banister/in-order-for-an-act-to-be-a-crime-libertarians-say-someone-must-be/) Scott Banister > [As Barbara Streisand discovered, adopting a militaristic posture against a tech-savvy mob of civil libertarians is not going to be of much help: Many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/as-barbara-streisand-discovered-adopting-a-militaristic-posture/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) > [Libertarians believe consenting adults have the right to do whatever they choose, except band together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emo-philips/libertarians-believe-consenting-adults-have-the-right-to-do-whatever/) [Emo Philips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emo-philips/) > [“This reduction of 'society' to a thin membrane of interactions between private individuals is presented today as the ambition of libertarians and free marketeers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/this-reduction-of-society-to-a-thin-membrane-of-interactions-between/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [The minimum that most minimalists want leaves in place just the institutions who protect their interests. That's libertarians for you - anarchists who want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/the-minimum-that-most-minimalists-want-leaves-in-place-just-the/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) ## More by John Hospers > [“A fascist is a student who, seeing the representatives of a chemical industry recruiting on campus, cries, "Let's chase the bastard off! We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hospers/a-fascist-is-a-student-who-seeing-the-representatives-of-a-chemical/) [John Hospers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hospers/) > [“A fascist is anyone who, seeing a man working hard and earning money, says, "He's getting more than we are, let's pass”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hospers/a-fascist-is-anyone-who-seeing-a-man-working-hard-and-earning-money/) [John Hospers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hospers/) > [By far the most numerous and most flagrant violations of personal liberty and individual rights are performed by governments... The major crimes throughout history,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hospers/by-far-the-most-numerous-and-most-flagrant-violations-of-personal/) [John Hospers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hospers/) > [“The nearest approach to a libertarian government was the government of the United States at the time of its inception.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hospers/the-nearest-approach-to-a-libertarian-government-was-the-government/) [John Hospers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hospers/) > [The greater the hold of government upon the life of the individual citizen, the greater the risk of war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hospers/the-greater-the-hold-of-government-upon-the-life-of-the-individual/) [John Hospers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hospers/) > [An economy cannot long remain prosperous by government's taxing and spending more, now absorbing national output at a rate equal to the entire income…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hospers/an-economy-cannot-long-remain-prosperous-by-government-s-taxing-and/) [John Hospers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hospers/) > [“Beware: the Government Is Armed and Dangerous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hospers/beware-the-government-is-armed-and-dangerous/) [John Hospers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hospers/) > [...More than almost any current book, DTU will wake the reader from his dogmatic slumbers. It is eminently readable, challenging, and provocative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hospers/more-than-almost-any-current-book-dtu-will-wake-the-reader-from-his/) [John Hospers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hospers/) > [“Should an individual or a government use force at all, even in retaliation? Clearly yes; complete pacifism is self-defeating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hospers/should-an-individual-or-a-government-use-force-at-all-even-in/) [John Hospers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hospers/) > [Whether or not we have personality disturbances, whether or not we have the ability to overcome deficiencies of early environment, is like the answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hospers/whether-or-not-we-have-personality-disturbances-whether-or-not-we/) [John Hospers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hospers/) > [“A fascist is anyone who, seeing a man working hard and earning money, says, "He's getting more than we are, let's pass a law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hospers/a-fascist-is-anyone-who-seeing-a-man-working-hard-and-earning-money-2/) [John Hospers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hospers/) > [“Democracy is essentially government by the majority, and a majority may be stupid, unenlightened, foolish, misled, and corrupt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hospers/democracy-is-essentially-government-by-the-majority-and-a-majority/) [John Hospers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hospers/) > [“The tyranny of a majority can be just as cruel as the tyranny of a single dictator, depending on the degree of enlightenment or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hospers/the-tyranny-of-a-majority-can-be-just-as-cruel-as-the-tyranny-of-a/) [John Hospers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hospers/) > [“Do you want to have free medical care at the expense of other people, whether they wish to provide it or not? But this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hospers/do-you-want-to-have-free-medical-care-at-the-expense-of-other-people/) [John Hospers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hospers/) > [ Undertaking initially to protect its citizens against aggression, \[government\] has often itself become … a far greater aggressor. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hospers/undertaking-initially-to-protect-its-citizens-against-aggression/) [John Hospers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hospers/) [Explore all 17 John Hospers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hospers/) ## More Libertarians quotes > [The minimum that most minimalists want leaves in place just the institutions who protect their interests. That's libertarians for you - anarchists who want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/the-minimum-that-most-minimalists-want-leaves-in-place-just-the/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [“This reduction of 'society' to a thin membrane of interactions between private individuals is presented today as the ambition of libertarians and free marketeers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/this-reduction-of-society-to-a-thin-membrane-of-interactions-between/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [Libertarians believe consenting adults have the right to do whatever they choose, except band together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emo-philips/libertarians-believe-consenting-adults-have-the-right-to-do-whatever/) [Emo Philips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emo-philips/) > [As Barbara Streisand discovered, adopting a militaristic posture against a tech-savvy mob of civil libertarians is not going to be of much help: Many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/as-barbara-streisand-discovered-adopting-a-militaristic-posture/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) > [In order for an act to be a crime, libertarians say, someone must be harmed - there must be a victim. Anything that's peaceful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-banister/in-order-for-an-act-to-be-a-crime-libertarians-say-someone-must-be/) Scott Banister > [A libertarian is a person who believes that no one has the right, under any circumstances, to initiate force against another human being, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/a-libertarian-is-a-person-who-believes-that-no-one-has-the-right/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [Libertarians are liberals who like markets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-wilkinson/libertarians-are-liberals-who-like-markets/) Will Wilkinson > [I don't agree with the libertarians. I want my security first. I'll deal with all the details after that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-lott/i-don-t-agree-with-the-libertarians-i-want-my-security-first-i-ll/) [Trent Lott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-lott/) > [“Libertarianism used to have a robust left wing as well. Both disliked government. Both were driven by a fantastically nostalgic conviction that a country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-andersen/libertarianism-used-to-have-a-robust-left-wing-as-well-both-disliked/) [Kurt Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-andersen/) > [Civil libertarians have raised concerns that some of the Patriot Act's provisions infringe on Constitutional rights. Those concerns are not supported by the facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-wicker/civil-libertarians-have-raised-concerns-that-some-of-the-patriot-act/) [Roger Wicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-wicker/) > [If conservatives really believed in individual liberty, as they endlessly claim and if they used both halves of their brains then they'd be libertarians.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/if-conservatives-really-believed-in-individual-liberty-as-they/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [“Yet basically, libertarians are for freedom and liberty for individuals, while recognizing that in order to be free we must also be protected. Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/yet-basically-libertarians-are-for-freedom-and-liberty-for/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [Over the years, I realized there was a Republican philosophy that I liked. And then they lost it. And LIBERTARIANS had more of it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/over-the-years-i-realized-there-was-a-republican-philosophy-that-i/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [“If something is wrong for you or me, it is also wrong for the cop, the soldier, the mayor, the governor, the general, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lew-rockwell/if-something-is-wrong-for-you-or-me-it-is-also-wrong-for-the-cop-the/) Lew Rockwell > [In our time, the great task for libertarians is to find an escape from politics in all its forms—from the totalitarian and fundamentalist catastrophes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-thiel/in-our-time-the-great-task-for-libertarians-is-to-find-an-escape-from/) [Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/) [Browse all 129 Libertarians quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarians/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The only government tolerated by libertarians is one that exercises only retaliatory use of force on anyone who initiates the use of force against anyone else within its borders.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Hospers" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hospers/the-only-government-tolerated-by-libertarians-is-one-that-exercises/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Libertarians" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hospers/the-only-government-tolerated-by-libertarians-is-one-that-exercises/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/john-hospers-30604_libertarians_the-only-government-tolerated-by-liberta_2776337.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/john-hospers-30604_libertarians_the-only-government-tolerated-by-liberta_2776337.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/john-hospers-30604_libertarians_the-only-government-tolerated-by-liberta_2776337.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only government tolerated by libertarians is one that exercises only retaliatory use of force on anyone…” — John Hospers", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Hospers", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hospers/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The only government tolerated by libertarians...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hospers/the-only-government-tolerated-by-libertarians-is-one-that-exercises/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hospers/the-only-government-tolerated-by-libertarians-is-one-that-exercises/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```