Political Quotes

Lysander Spooner: “All, or nearly all, the advantage there is in fixing any constitutional limits to the power of a government, is simply…”

On the record
All, or nearly all, the advantage there is in fixing any constitutional limits to the power of a government, is simply to give notice to the government of the point at which it will meet with resistance.
Said by
Lysander Spooner

Editor's note · Context

Spooner suggests that constitutional limits serve primarily to inform the government of where resistance will occur.

Share

More from Lysander Spooner

They do not tell us that we are the freest and happiest people on earth, inasmuch as each of our male adults is allowed one voice in ten millions in the choice of the men, who are to rob, enslave, and murder us.

gutenberg.org

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.

gutenberg.org

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.

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