Political Quotes

Lysander Spooner: “This definition is an utterly false, absurd, and atrocious one.”

On the record
This definition is an utterly false, absurd, and atrocious one.
Said by
Lysander Spooner

Editor's note · Context

Spooner criticizes a particular definition as fundamentally flawed and outrageous.

Share

More from Lysander Spooner

When they have once taken our money, they have the decency to get out of our sight as soon as possible; they do not persist in following us, and robbing us, again and again, so long as we produce anything that they can take from us.

gutenberg.org

They do not carry their heads high, above all other men, and demand our reverence and admiration, as statesmen, patriots, and benefactors.

gutenberg.org

They do not tell us that all liberty and order would be destroyed, that society itself would go to pieces, and man go back to barbarism, if it were not for the care, and supervision, and protection, they lavish upon us.

gutenberg.org

In short, they acknowledge themselves hostes humani generis: enemies of the human race.

gutenberg.org