On the record
But for this right of resistance, on the part of the people, all governments would become tyrannical to a degree of which few people are aware.
Said by
Lysander Spooner
Source
gutenberg.orgLysander Spooner: “But for this right of resistance, on the part of the people, all governments would become tyrannical to a degree of…”
Editor's note · Context
Spooner warns that without the right to resist, governments would inevitably become tyrannical.
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More from Lysander Spooner
On the contrary, they acknowledge themselves robbers, murderers, and villains, pure and simple.
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 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.
In short, they acknowledge themselves hostes humani generis: enemies of the human race.