Authority Quote by Walter E. Williams
“Government is necessary, but the only rights we can delegate to government are the ones we possess. For example, we all have a natural right to defend ourselves against predators. Since we possess that right, we can delegate authority to government to defend us. By contrast, we don't have a natural right to take the property of one person to give to another; therefore, we cannot legitimately delegate such authority to government.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Property Rights and Government, Walter E. Williams, 1990s
Government can only act on rights that individuals already hold, such as self‑defense, not on rights they lack, like taking another’s property.
In simple terms: Governments may enforce natural rights, not create new ones.
Key Takeaway
Limit government to protecting existing natural rights.
Themes
politics
property
rights
government
law
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- policy making
- legal reforms
- civil liberty debates
- community safety planning
Key Concepts
natural rights
delegation
legitimacy
Questions to Reflect On
- What rights should be non‑delegable?
- How do we define natural versus legal rights?
A Different Perspective
Assumes consensus on what constitutes a natural right, which is contested.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)