Libertarian Quote by Leonard E. Read
““MY THESIS, in simplest terms, is: Let anyone do anything he pleases, so long as it is peaceful; the role of government, then, is to keep the peace...Keeping the peace means no more than prohibiting persons from unpeaceful actions...When government goes beyond this, that is, when government prohibits peaceful actions, such prohibitions themselves are, prima facie, unpeaceful.””
About This Quote
Source Book: I, Pencil, 1958 (essay)
A libertarian principle that government should only prevent violence, not restrict peaceful actions, as any restriction on peace is itself unpeaceful.
In simple terms: Government should only stop violence.
Key Takeaway
Limit government to protecting peace.
Themes
politics
libertarianism
peace
government role
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- legislation
- law enforcement
- civil disobedience
- community safety
Key Concepts
non‑aggression principle
civil liberty
public policy
Questions to Reflect On
- When is it justified to limit peaceful actions?
- How do we define “peaceful” in diverse societies?
A Different Perspective
Complex societies may need more regulation.
![“For government consists in nothing else but so controlling subjects that they shall neither be able to, nor have cause to do [it] harm.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7f8/niccolo-machiavelli-368_able_for-government-consists-in-nothing-else_2898207.jpg)
![“Americans for Prosperity annoyed some of the Tea Partiers,” recalls the libertarian blogger Ralph Benko. “These people drove up, opened the door, put T-shirts on them, then took pictures and sent them to Charles [Koch] saying, ‘See? We’re doing great things with your money.” quote by Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/08d/jane-mayer-1031_tea_americans-for-prosperity-annoyed-some-of_21572.jpg)
