--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A slave government is an oligarchy; and…" description: "\"A slave government is an oligarchy; and one, too, of the most arbitrary and criminal character.\" — Lysander Spooner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8eb/lysander-spooner-3260_arbitrary_a-slave-government-is-an-oligarchy-and-o_1699936.png" --- # A slave government is an oligarchy; and one, too, of the… ![“A slave government is an oligarchy; and one, too, of the most arbitrary and criminal character.” quote by Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8eb/lysander-spooner-3260_arbitrary_a-slave-government-is-an-oligarchy-and-o_1699936.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8eb/lysander-spooner-3260_arbitrary_a-slave-government-is-an-oligarchy-and-o_1699936.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8eb/lysander-spooner-3260_arbitrary_a-slave-government-is-an-oligarchy-and-o_1699936.png) > “A slave government is an oligarchy; and one, too, of the most arbitrary and criminal character.” [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. A slave government is an oligarchy, characterized by arbitrary and criminal authority. **In simple terms:** Slave governments are oppressive oligarchies. Key Takeaway Recognize and resist oppressive rule. Themes politics justice history Mood analytical serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - civil rights activism - legal reform - education - public policy Key Concepts oligarchy slavery authoritarianism Questions to Reflect On - How can societies prevent oligarchic abuse? - What signs indicate a government is “slave”? A Different Perspective The definition may be too broad for all contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminals/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Oligarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oligarchy/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) ## Related quotes > [A democracy exists whenever those who are free and are not well-off, being in the majority, are in sovereign control of government, an oligarchy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/a-democracy-exists-whenever-those-who-are-free-and-are-not-well-off/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [To bring about government by oligarchy, masquerading as democracy, it is fundamentally essential that practically all authority and control be centralized in our Federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/to-bring-about-government-by-oligarchy-masquerading-as-democracy-it/) [Franklin D. 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Because of government persecution, I was left with no other choice than to flee from the political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/i-am-a-20th-century-escaped-slave-because-of-government-persecution-i/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [If any man's money can be taken by a so-called government, without his own personal consent, all his other rights are taken with it;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/if-any-man-s-money-can-be-taken-by-a-so-called-government-without-his/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [No man can delegate,... any right of arbitrary dominion over a 3rd person; for that would imply a right in the 1st person, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/no-man-can-delegate-any-right-of-arbitrary-dominion-over-a-3rd-person/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [A government that can at pleasure accuse, shoot, and hang men, as traitors, for the one general offence of refusing to surrender themselves and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/a-government-that-can-at-pleasure-accuse-shoot-and-hang-men-as/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [Those who are able to climb up the ladder will find ways to pull it up after them, or selectively lower it down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/those-who-are-able-to-climb-up-the-ladder-will-find-ways-to-pull-it/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [“The real power in America is held by a fast-emerging new Oligarchy of pimps and preachers who see no need for Democracy or fairness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-real-power-in-america-is-held-by-a-fast-emerging-new-oligarchy-of/) [Hunter S. 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Wealth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-only-secure-basis-for-oligarchy-is-collectivism-wealth/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [But if there's an erosion at home, you know, Thomas Jefferson warned about a tyranny of an oligarchy and if we surrender our democracy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/but-if-there-s-an-erosion-at-home-you-know-thomas-jefferson-warned/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [“He did not see that the continuity of an oligarchy need not be physical, nor did he pause to reflect that hereditary aristocracies have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/he-did-not-see-that-the-continuity-of-an-oligarchy-need-not-be/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [Dark influences from the American past congregate among us still. 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