Lysander Spooner: “There is no other principle that any man can rightfully enforce upon…”

On the record

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

Said by

Lysander Spooner

Source

Spooner argues that no one can rightfully impose a principle on others that they themselves would not accept.

More from Lysander Spooner

Therefore all their laws, as they call them,--that is, all the laws of their own making,--have no color of authority or obligation.

From the sale of that justice which every citizen has a right to demand, it was an easy transition to withhold or deny it.

Proud from victory, and with their swords in their hands, would they surrender their liberties to a private man?

In this manner all unjust laws are established, and made operative against the rights of the people.

Lysander Spooner: “There is no other principle that any man can rightfully enforce upon others, or ought to consent to have enforced…”