--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The average man, whatever his errors…" description: "\"“The average man, whatever his errors otherwise, at least sees clearly that government is something lying outside him and outside the generality of his..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/225/murray-n-rothbard-18059_politics_the-average-man-whatever-his-errors-othe_1086928.jpg" --- # The average man, whatever his errors otherwise, at least… ![“The average man, whatever his errors otherwise, at least sees clearly that government is something lying outside him and outside the generality of his fellow men—that it is a separate, independent, and hostile power, only partly under his control, and capable of doing him great harm. Is it a fact…” quote by Murray N. Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/225/murray-n-rothbard-18059_politics_the-average-man-whatever-his-errors-othe_1086928.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/225/murray-n-rothbard-18059_politics_the-average-man-whatever-his-errors-othe_1086928.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/225/murray-n-rothbard-18059_politics_the-average-man-whatever-his-errors-othe_1086928.jpg) > ““The average man, whatever his errors otherwise, at least sees clearly that government is something lying outside him and outside the generality of his fellow men—that it is a separate, independent, and hostile power, only partly under his control, and capable of doing him great harm. Is it a fact of no significance that robbing the government is everywhere regarded as a crime of less magnitude than robbing an individual, or even a corporation? . . . What lies behind all this, I believe, is a deep sense of the fundamental antagonism between the government and the people it governs. It is apprehended, not as a committee of citizens chosen to carry on the communal business of the whole population, but as a separate and autonomous corporation, mainly devoted to exploiting the population for the benefit of its own members. . . . When a private citizen is robbed, a worthy man is deprived of the fruits of his industry and thrift; when the government is robbed, the worst that happens is that certain rogues and loafers have less money to play with than they had before. The notion that they have earned that money is never entertained; to most sensible men it would seem ludicrous.19”” [Murray N. Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-n-rothbard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Government is viewed as an external, hostile entity that people feel powerless against, leading to a paradox where harming it is seen as less serious than harming individuals. **In simple terms:** People see government as a distant, harmful power. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge the perception of government as an adversary. Themes politics power individualism anarchism Mood skeptical critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - activism - policy reform - community organizing - public education - legal challenges Key Concepts social contract state legitimacy public vs private harm Questions to Reflect On - How does this perception affect civic engagement? - What alternatives to government exist? A Different Perspective The view may overlook the benefits of collective governance and public services. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government Regarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-regarded-492841/) [Government Robbed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-robbed-2239290/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Robbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robbing/) [Robbing Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robbing-government-2788646/) [Significance Robbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/significance-robbing-2788647/) ## Related quotes > [When government is regarded as our savior, and children are taught they have no accountability to any higher power, we'll have a real problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-johnson/when-government-is-regarded-as-our-savior-and-children-are-taught/) [Mike Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-johnson/) > [Government wants to provide the little but the sufficient so that you keep cool and quiet while you are being a slave of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-a/government-wants-to-provide-the-little-but-the-sufficient-so-that-you/) [Carlos A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-a/) > [When a private citizen is robbed, a worthy man is deprived of the fruits of his industry and thrift; when the government is robbed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/when-a-private-citizen-is-robbed-a-worthy-man-is-deprived-of-the/) [H. 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Is it a fact of no significance that robbing the government is everywhere regarded as a crime of less magnitude than robbing an individual, or even a corporation? . . . What lies behind all this, I believe, is a deep sense of the fundamental antagonism between the government and the people it governs. It is apprehended, not as a committee of citizens chosen to carry on the communal business of the whole population, but as a separate and autonomous corporation, mainly devoted to exploiting the population for the benefit of its own members. . . . When a private citizen is robbed, a worthy man is deprived of the fruits of his industry and thrift; when the government is robbed, the worst that happens is that certain rogues and loafers have less money to play with than they had before. The notion that they have earned that money is never entertained; to most sensible men it would seem ludicrous.19”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Murray N. 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