Lysander Spooner

But this one law of justice he may rightfully be compelled to obey; and all the force that is reasonably necessary to compel him, may rightfully be used against him.

All other laws, it is optional with each man to obey, or not, as he may choose.

And it is the only law which any man can rightfully be compelled, by his fellow men, to obey.

Men, as individuals, may rightfully compel each other to obey this one law of justice.

And whenever any number of men, calling themselves a government, do anything to another man, or to his property, which they had no right to do as individuals they thereby declare themselves trespassers, robbers, or murderers, according to…

It is self-evident that no number of men, by conspiring, and calling themselves a government, can acquire any rights whatever over other men, or other men's property, which they had not before, as individuals.

It is against such men, that all others, who desire nothing but justice for themselves, and are willing to unite to secure it for all others, must combine, if we are ever to have justice established for any.

Yet such is the inconsistency of human nature, that some men--in fact, many men--who will risk their lives for this principle, when their own liberty or property is at stake, will violate it in the most flagrant manner, if they can thereby…

Every man claims the protection of this principle for himself, whether he is willing to accord it to others, or not.

There is no other principle that any man can rightfully enforce upon others, or ought to consent to have enforced against himself.

And the whole power of the government must be limited to the maintenance of that single principle.

Until you do that, is it not plain that the people have a right to consider you a tyrant, and the confederate and tool of tyrants, and to get rid of you as unceremoniously as they would of any other tyrant?