--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One essential of a free government is…" description: "\"One essential of a free government is that it rest wholly on voluntary support. And one certain proof that a government is not free, is that it coerces..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/lysander-spooner-3260_certain_one-essential-of-a-free-government-is-th_1419166.jpg" --- # One essential of a free government is that it rest wholly… ![“One essential of a free government is that it rest wholly on voluntary support. And one certain proof that a government is not free, is that it coerces more or less persons to support it, against their will.” quote by Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/lysander-spooner-3260_certain_one-essential-of-a-free-government-is-th_1419166.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/lysander-spooner-3260_certain_one-essential-of-a-free-government-is-th_1419166.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/lysander-spooner-3260_certain_one-essential-of-a-free-government-is-th_1419166.jpg) > “One essential of a free government is that it rest wholly on voluntary support. And one certain proof that a government is not free, is that it coerces more or less persons to support it, against their will.” [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 free government must rely on voluntary contributions; coercion indicates lack of freedom. **In simple terms:** Freedom requires voluntary support. Key Takeaway Demand voluntary contributions. Themes political philosophy freedom government legitimacy Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - tax policy - civic engagement - public services Key Concepts social contract voluntaryism Questions to Reflect On - Can a society thrive without any compulsory taxes? - What alternatives exist to fund public goods? A Different Perspective Voluntary support may be insufficient for essential services. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Free government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-government/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) ## Related quotes > [That no government, so called, can reasonably be trusted, or reasonably be supposed to have honest purposes in view, any longer than it depends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/that-no-government-so-called-can-reasonably-be-trusted-or-reasonably/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [From 1836, down to last year, there is no proof of the Government having any confidence in the duration of peace, or possessing increased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/from-1836-down-to-last-year-there-is-no-proof-of-the-government/) [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) > [“- Government - Free Shit for Idiots”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/government-free-shit-for-idiots/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) > [Throughout your life you have a lot of freedom. As a child you are free to obey your parents. You are also free to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/throughout-your-life-you-have-a-lot-of-freedom-as-a-child-you-are/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [ \[We are\] no longer a government by free opinion, no longer a government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a government… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/we-are-no-longer-a-government-by-free-opinion-no-longer-a-government/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [A government is free in proportion to the rights it guarantees to the minority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alf-landon/a-government-is-free-in-proportion-to-the-rights-it-guarantees-to-the/) Alf Landon > [If I had to choose between government and a free press, I would choose a free press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/if-i-had-to-choose-between-government-and-a-free-press-i-would-choose/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The Italian government, a free French newspaper tartly observed, never finished a war on the same side it started on – unless the war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-edward-smith/the-italian-government-a-free-french-newspaper-tartly-observed-never/) [Jean Edward Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-edward-smith/) > [Democracy is the form of government in which the free are rulers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/democracy-is-the-form-of-government-in-which-the-free-are-rulers/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“We are fast approaching the stage of ultimate inversion: the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/we-are-fast-approaching-the-stage-of-ultimate-inversion-the-stage/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“A Government is not free to do as it pleases…. The law of nature stands as an eternal rule to all men, legislators as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-boaz/a-government-is-not-free-to-do-as-it-pleases-the-law-of-nature-stands/) [David Boaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-boaz/) > [The fallacy is to believe that under a dictatorial government you can be free inside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-fallacy-is-to-believe-that-under-a-dictatorial-government-you-can/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > ['We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the Government is free to do anything it pleases, while citizens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/we-are-fast-approaching-the-stage-of-the-ultimate-inversion-the-stage/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [To continue on the road we Americans have traveled for the past century is ultimately to deliver ourselves completely into the hands of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/to-continue-on-the-road-we-americans-have-traveled-for-the-past/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [No government can be free that does not allow all its citizens to participate in the formation and execution of her laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thaddeus-stevens/no-government-can-be-free-that-does-not-allow-all-its-citizens-to/) [Thaddeus Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thaddeus-stevens/) ## 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. When I was let out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/i-was-put-into-jail-as-i-was-going-to-the-shoemaker-s-to-get-a-shoe/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [The single despot stands out in the face of all men, and says: I am the State: My will is law: I am your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-single-despot-stands-out-in-the-face-of-all-men-and-says-i-am-the/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [The Rothschilds, and that class of money-lenders of whom they are the representatives and agents - men who never think of lending a shilling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-rothschilds-and-that-class-of-money-lenders-of-whom-they-are-the/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [Who are ever taxed? Individuals only. Who have property that can be taxed? Individuals only. Who can give their consent to be taxed? 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 Certain quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [People don't always realize that a record is forever. It'll always be there under your name. You've got to be certain that it's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/people-don-t-always-realize-that-a-record-is-forever-it-ll-always-be/) [Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [Why do we love certain homes, and why do they seem to love us? It is the warmth of our individual hearts reflected in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-robsjohn-gibbings/why-do-we-love-certain-homes-and-why-do-they-seem-to-love-us-it-is/) T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings > [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [We've all seen talented young players who get to a certain level but there comes a point where that talent will only take you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-gatland/we-ve-all-seen-talented-young-players-who-get-to-a-certain-level-but/) [Warren Gatland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-gatland/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [I think that at a certain age, say fifteen or sixteen, poetry is like masturbation. But later in life good poets burn their early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/i-think-that-at-a-certain-age-say-fifteen-or-sixteen-poetry-is-like/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [If a person does not listen to the demands of their own spiritual and heart life and insists on a certain program, you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/if-a-person-does-not-listen-to-the-demands-of-their-own-spiritual-and/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) Browse all 13,673 Certain quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One essential of a free government is that it rest wholly on voluntary support. And one certain proof that a government is not free, is that it coerces more or less persons to support it, against their will.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lysander Spooner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/one-essential-of-a-free-government-is-that-it-rest-wholly-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Certain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/one-essential-of-a-free-government-is-that-it-rest-wholly-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/lysander-spooner-3260_certain_one-essential-of-a-free-government-is-th_1419166.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/lysander-spooner-3260_certain_one-essential-of-a-free-government-is-th_1419166.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/lysander-spooner-3260_certain_one-essential-of-a-free-government-is-th_1419166.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One essential of a free government is that it rest wholly on voluntary support. And one certain proof that a…” — Lysander Spooner", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lysander Spooner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One essential of a free government...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/one-essential-of-a-free-government-is-that-it-rest-wholly-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/one-essential-of-a-free-government-is-that-it-rest-wholly-on/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```