--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whenever legislators endeavor to take…" description: "\"Whenever legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themsel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/345/john-locke-814_america-freedom_whenever-legislators-endeavor-to-take-aw_1201460.jpg" --- # Whenever legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the… ![“Whenever legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any further obedience.” quote by John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/345/john-locke-814_america-freedom_whenever-legislators-endeavor-to-take-aw_1201460.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/345/john-locke-814_america-freedom_whenever-legislators-endeavor-to-take-aw_1201460.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/345/john-locke-814_america-freedom_whenever-legislators-endeavor-to-take-aw_1201460.jpg) > “Whenever legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any further obedience.” [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When rulers violate property rights or impose slavery, they become enemies of the people, who are then freed from obedience. **In simple terms:** Tyranny breaks the social contract, releasing people from duty. Key Takeaway Resist oppression when rights are threatened. Themes freedom rights social contract resistance Mood defiant urgent Type political ethical When to use this quote - political protest - legal challenges - civil rights movements - whistleblowing Key Concepts property rights legitimacy civil disobedience Questions to Reflect On - What rights are non‑negotiable for you? - When is civil disobedience justified? A Different Perspective Even in tyranny, some may fear conflict and choose compliance; ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-freedom/) [Endeavor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endeavor/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom and liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-and-liberty/) [Legislators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislators/) [Libertarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarian/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Limited freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limited-freedom/) [Limited government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limited-government/) [Obedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedience/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Property rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property-rights/) [Rights and freedoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-and-freedoms/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [If we don't believe in free expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-we-don-t-believe-in-free-expression-for-people-we-despise-we-don-t/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [We can't be so fixated on our desire to preserve the rights of ordinary Americans...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/we-can-t-be-so-fixated-on-our-desire-to-preserve-the-rights-of/) [William J. 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