--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man is none the less a slave because he…" description: "\"A man is none the less a slave because he is allowed to choose a new master once in a term of years. Neither are a people any the less slaves because p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/lysander-spooner-3260_masters_a-man-is-none-the-less-a-slave-because-h_2877979.png" --- # A man is none the less a slave because he is allowed to… ![“A man is none the less a slave because he is allowed to choose a new master once in a term of years. Neither are a people any the less slaves because permitted periodically to choose new masters.” quote by Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/lysander-spooner-3260_masters_a-man-is-none-the-less-a-slave-because-h_2877979.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/lysander-spooner-3260_masters_a-man-is-none-the-less-a-slave-because-h_2877979.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/lysander-spooner-3260_masters_a-man-is-none-the-less-a-slave-because-h_2877979.png) > “A man is none the less a slave because he is allowed to choose a new master once in a term of years. Neither are a people any the less slaves because permitted periodically to choose new masters.” [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing new leaders periodically does not diminish the condition of being controlled; true freedom requires more than periodic choice. **In simple terms:** Periodic choice doesn’t equal freedom. Key Takeaway Seek deeper autonomy beyond voting. Themes freedom politics choice Mood critical inquisitive Type political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - workplace management - community decisions - activism Key Concepts democratic theory individual liberty Questions to Reflect On - What structures ensure genuine freedom? - How can we protect against subtle domination? A Different Perspective Frequent elections can be manipulated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Man Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-slave-282500/) [Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Slaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-slaves-290394/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slave Allowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave-allowed-3972415/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Slaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaves/) [Slaves Permitted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaves-permitted-3972414/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [A man is no less a slave because he is allowed to choose a new master once in a term of years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/a-man-is-no-less-a-slave-because-he-is-allowed-to-choose-a-new-master/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [Plenty poisoned minds of the people are ours. Slaves, from mental death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/plenty-poisoned-minds-of-the-people-are-ours-slaves-from-mental-death/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [Under the freest constitution ignorant people are still slaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-de-caritat-marquis-de-condorcet/under-the-freest-constitution-ignorant-people-are-still-slaves/) [Nicolas de Caritat, marquis de Condorcet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-de-caritat-marquis-de-condorcet/) > [I do not subscribe to the doctrine that the people are the slaves and property of their government. I believe that government is for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-smith/i-do-not-subscribe-to-the-doctrine-that-the-people-are-the-slaves-and/) [Gerrit Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-smith/) > [I define democracy as control by the people. Slaves are those who allow others to control their lives. Insofar as people succeed in solving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/i-define-democracy-as-control-by-the-people-slaves-are-those-who/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [I said there was a society of men among us, bred up from their youth in the art of proving by words multiplied for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-said-there-was-a-society-of-men-among-us-bred-up-from-their-youth/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“«Since when you have taken people for slaves and they were born free»”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umar-ibn-al-khattab/since-when-you-have-taken-people-for-slaves-and-they-were-born-free/) [Umar ibn Al-Khattab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umar-ibn-al-khattab/) > [“Woman is to man as the slave to the master, the manual to the mental worker, the barbarian to the Greek. Woman is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/woman-is-to-man-as-the-slave-to-the-master-the-manual-to-the-mental/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) > [The weak-minded man is the slave of his vices and the dupe of his virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-antoine-petit-senn/the-weak-minded-man-is-the-slave-of-his-vices-and-the-dupe-of-his/) [Jean Antoine Petit-Senn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-antoine-petit-senn/) > [“The lazy man is the slave of his own feelings. His body is his master; not his servant. He is the slave of circumstances.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-dewitt-hyde/the-lazy-man-is-the-slave-of-his-own-feelings-his-body-is-his-master/) [William Dewitt Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-dewitt-hyde/) > [“And now the lies of the Civil War and the lies of these post-racial years began to resonate with each other, and I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/and-now-the-lies-of-the-civil-war-and-the-lies-of-these-post-racial/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [“Some morals tended to keep people slaves in factories, in churches and true to the State. Other morals simply made good sense. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/some-morals-tended-to-keep-people-slaves-in-factories-in-churches-and/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Slavery wasn't something that grew up in the American South. and black people were not the first to be slaves in America. Before them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/slavery-wasn-t-something-that-grew-up-in-the-american-south-and-black/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [In a dictatorship there is no choice, the elections are controlled, the police are the military, fear equals control, speech is suppressed, the economy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-jones/in-a-dictatorship-there-is-no-choice-the-elections-are-controlled-the/) [Alex Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-jones/) > [I don't have an assistant. I make a lot of people around me my slaves, but no assistant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-don-t-have-an-assistant-i-make-a-lot-of-people-around-me-my-slaves/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) ## More by Lysander Spooner > [Slavery, if it can be legalized at all, can be legalized only by positive legislation. Natural law gives it no aid. Custom imparts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/slavery-if-it-can-be-legalized-at-all-can-be-legalized-only-by/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [The greatest of all crimes are the wars that are carried on by governments, to plunder, enslave, and destroy mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-greatest-of-all-crimes-are-the-wars-that-are-carried-on-by/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [Those who deny the right of a jury to protect an individual in resisting an unjust law of the government, deny him all defence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/those-who-deny-the-right-of-a-jury-to-protect-an-individual-in/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [I was put into jail as I was going to the shoemaker's to get a shoe which was mended. 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Individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/who-are-ever-taxed-individuals-only-who-have-property-that-can-be/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [There can be no criminal intent in resisting injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/there-can-be-no-criminal-intent-in-resisting-injustice/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [Practically and commercially speaking, a dollar is not necessarily a specific thing, made of silver, or gold, or any other single metal, or substance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/practically-and-commercially-speaking-a-dollar-is-not-necessarily-a/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [If the jury have no right to judge of the justice of a law of the government, they plainly can do nothing to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/if-the-jury-have-no-right-to-judge-of-the-justice-of-a-law-of-the/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [If it be said that the consent of the strongest party in a nation, is all that is necessary to justify the establishment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/if-it-be-said-that-the-consent-of-the-strongest-party-in-a-nation-is/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [In reality there is no such thing as an inflation of prices, relatively to gold. There is such a thing as a depreciated paper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/in-reality-there-is-no-such-thing-as-an-inflation-of-prices/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [And there is no difference, in principle - but only in degree - between political and chattel slavery. The former, no less than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/and-there-is-no-difference-in-principle-but-only-in-degree-between/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [The Constitution has no inherent authority or obligation. It has no authority or obligation at all, unless as a contract between man and man.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-constitution-has-no-inherent-authority-or-obligation-it-has-no/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [These so-called governments are in reality only great bands of robbers and murderers, organized, disciplined, and constantly on the alert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/these-so-called-governments-are-in-reality-only-great-bands-of/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) [Explore all 135 Lysander Spooner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) ## More Masters quotes > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [We are reaching deep within ourselves to adjust the master knob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/we-are-reaching-deep-within-ourselves-to-adjust-the-master-knob/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [In relations between the rich and the strong, between the rich and the poor, between the master and the servant, it's liberty that grinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-relations-between-the-rich-and-the-strong-between-the-rich-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [There are so many great artists, I think, who kind of suffer from being icons, legends, acknowledged masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-linklater/there-are-so-many-great-artists-i-think-who-kind-of-suffer-from-being/) [Richard Linklater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-linklater/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no one who can change My course or affect My conduct to the slightest extent. I am the Master over all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/there-is-no-one-who-can-change-my-course-or-affect-my-conduct-to-the/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [Laws are not masters but servants, and he rules them who obey them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/laws-are-not-masters-but-servants-and-he-rules-them-who-obey-them/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [I was a full time student either at Stony Brook or NYU getting my masters degree. After I graduated with my masters I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-algieri/i-was-a-full-time-student-either-at-stony-brook-or-nyu-getting-my/) [Chris Algieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-algieri/) > [Search for the seed of good in every adversity. 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