On the record
If he desires any favors from any body, he must, I repeat, depend upon the voluntary kindness of such of his fellow men as may be willing to grant them.
Said by
Lysander Spooner
Source
gutenberg.orgLysander Spooner: “If he desires any favors from any body, he must, I repeat, depend upon the voluntary kindness of such of his fellow men…”
Editor's note · Context
He emphasizes the importance of voluntary interactions among individuals for mutual aid rather than relying on government favors.
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More from Lysander Spooner
In short, they acknowledge themselves hostes humani generis: enemies of the human race.
They do not tell us of the almshouses, hospitals, schools, churches, etc., which, out of the purest charity and benevolence, they maintain for our benefit, out of the money they take from us.
They do not carry their heads high, above all other men, and demand our reverence and admiration, as statesmen, patriots, and benefactors.
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.