Any Quote by Lysander Spooner
“When a man says he is building a house for himself and his posterity, he does not mean to be understood as saying that he has any thought of binding them, nor is it to be inferred that he is so foolish as to imagine that he has any right or power to bind them, to live in it.”
About This Quote
Source Book: No Treason, 1869, Lysander Spooner
Building a house for future generations does not give one authority to control or limit those generations' freedom.
In simple terms: Future planning doesn't grant rights over others.
Key Takeaway
Respect autonomy of those you intend to serve.
Themes
law
ethics
future generations
Mood
thoughtful
principled
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- family legacy
- policy making
- inheritance law
Key Concepts
property rights
intergenerational justice
libertarianism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you support future people without imposing constraints?
- What ethical limits exist in planning for others?
A Different Perspective
Assuming control can lead to oppression.
