Political Quotes

Lysander Spooner: “But this leaves the government all power of determining what is justice and right, except that it shall not consider…”

On the record
But this leaves the government all power of determining what is justice and right, except that it shall not consider anything as justice and right so far as to carry it into execution against the goods, rights, or person of a party unless it be something which a jury have sanctioned.
Said by
Lysander Spooner

Editor's note · Context

This statement reflects Spooner's view on the government's discretion in determining justice.

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On the contrary, they acknowledge themselves robbers, murderers, and villains, pure and simple.

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They neither ask, nor expect, any mercy, if they should ever fall into the hands of honest men.

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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.

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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.

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