On the record
No government can have any right to grant them; because no government can have a right to take from one man any thing that is his, and give it to another.
Said by
Lysander Spooner
Source
gutenberg.orgLysander Spooner: “No government can have any right to grant them; because no government can have a right to take from one man any thing…”
Editor's note · Context
Spooner argues against the moral legitimacy of government taking property from one person to give to another.
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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.
They do not carry their heads high, above all other men, and demand our reverence and admiration, as statesmen, patriots, and benefactors.
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.