Libertarianism Quotes - Page 2

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  The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities.

  Ayn Rand

  Philosophy, Humor, Rights

  Ayn Rand (1964). “The Virtue of Selfishness”, p.125, Penguin

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• The moral and constitutional obligations of our representatives in Washington are to protect our liberty, not coddle the world, precipitating no-win wars, while bringing bankruptcy and economic turmoil to our people.

  Ron Paul

  Money, Peace, War

  Ron Paul (1987). “Freedom Under Siege”, p.60, Ludwig von Mises Institute

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• In the end, more than freedom, they wanted security. They wanted a comfortable life, and they lost it all – security, comfort, and freedom. When the Athenians finally wanted not to give to society but for society to give to them, when the freedom they wished for most was freedom from responsibility, then Athens ceased to be free and was never free again.

  Edward Gibbon

  Wisdom, Responsibility, Libertarian Party

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• The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom...

  Ronald Reagan

  Government, Desire, Libertarian

  "Reason" Magazine, July 1, 1975.

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  The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.

  Bertrand Russell

  Education, Confidence, Wisdom

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• That's libertarians for you - anarchists who want police protection from their slaves.

  Kim Stanley Robinson

  Police, Want, Libertarian

  Kim Stanley Robinson (2003). “Green Mars”, p.479, Spectra

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• All socialism involves slavery.

  Herbert Spencer

  Liberty, Slavery, Libertarian

  Herbert Spencer, John Offer (1994). “Spencer: Political Writings”, p.95, Cambridge University Press

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  The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not sufficient warrant.

  John Stuart Mill

  War, Power, Libertarian Party

  On Liberty ch. 1 (1859)

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• A good End cannot sanctify evil Means; nor must we ever do Evil, that Good may come of it.

  William Penn

  Mean, Evil, May

  Benjamin Franklin, William Penn (2012). “Franklin's Way to Wealth and Penn's Maxims”, p.67, Courier Corporation

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• Manufacturing and commercial monopolies owe their origin not to a tendency imminent in a capitalist economy but to governmental interventionist policy directed against free trade and laissez faire.

  Ludwig von Mises

  Capitalist Economy, Liberty, Libertarian

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• Patriots always talk of dying for their country and never of killing for their country.

  Bertrand Russell

  Country, Hippie, Patriotic

  Bertrand Russell (1962). “Has Man a Future?”

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• Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.

  P. J. O'Rourke

  Inspirational, Funny, Money

  P. J. O'Rourke (2007). “Parliament of Whores: A Lone Humorist Attempts to Explain the Entire U.S. Government”, p.24, Grove/Atlantic, Inc.

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• Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.

  George Washington

  Peace, War, 4th Of July

  George Washington (1783). “A circular Letter ... to ... W. Greene, Governor ... of Rhode Island”, p.11

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• The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.

  Mark Twain

  Business, Inspiration, Humor

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• The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule.

  H. L. Mencken

  Peace, Freedom, War

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• Being elected to Congress is regarded as being sent on a looting raid for one's friends.

  George Will

  Political, Liberty, Libertarian

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• Things in our country run in spite of government, not by aid of it.

  Will Rogers

  Country, Running, Government

  Will Rogers, Bryan B. Sterling, Frances N. Sterling (1993). “Will Rogers' World: America's Foremost Political Humorist Comments on the Twenties and Thirties--and Eighties and Nineties”, p.92, Rowman & Littlefield

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• War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

  Bertrand Russell

  Peace, Military, War

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• What is ominous is the ease with which some people go from saying that they don't like something to saying that the government should forbid it. When you go down that road, don't expect freedom to survive very long.

  Thomas Sowell

  Government, Libertarian Party, Long

  Thomas Sowell (1993). “Is Reality Optional?: And Other Essays”, Hoover Inst Press

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• Historically, much of the motivation for public schooling has been to stifle variety and institute social control.

  Hugh Jackman

  Motivation, Liberty, Libertarian

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• That government is best which governs least.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Freedom, Democracies Have, Government

  Civil Disobedience (1849) See Ralph Waldo Emerson 29; O'Sullivan 1; Shipley 1

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• If you have ever seen a four-year-old trying to lord it over a two-year-old, then you know what the basic problem of human nature is - and why government keeps growing larger and ever more intrusive.

  Thomas Sowell

  Government, Years, Two Year Olds

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• Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.

  H. L. Mencken

  Freedom, Ignorance, Majority Rule

  "Notes On Journalism". Chicago Tribune, September 19, 1926.

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• I do not believe that the government should have its long nose poked into the private consensual relationships between people.

  John Anderson

  Believe, Government, Should Have

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• Socialists make the mistake of confusing individual worth with success. They believe you cannot allow people to succeed in case those who fail feel worthless.

  Kenneth Baker, Baron Baker of Dorking

  Mistake, Believe, People

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