On the record
And his assumption would afford as much moral justification for his robbery as does a like assumption, on the part of the government, for taking a man's property without his consent.
Said by
Lysander Spooner
Source
gutenberg.orgLysander Spooner: “And his assumption would afford as much moral justification for his robbery as does a like assumption, on the part of…”
Editor's note · Context
Spooner claims that the moral justification for robbery is equally flawed whether by a thief or a government.
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More from Lysander Spooner
They do not tell us that they have established infallible supreme courts, to whom they refer all questions as to the legality of their acts, and that they do nothing that is not sanctioned by these courts.
For all these reasons, they are not only modest and sensible, but really frank, honest, and honorable villains, contrasted with these courts of injustice, and the lawmakers by whom these courts are established.
On the contrary, they acknowledge themselves robbers, murderers, and villains, pure and simple.
They do not attempt to deceive us, or mislead us, or reconcile us to their doings, by any such pretences, impostures, or insults as these.