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Notable Quote

"The State is that organization in society which attempts to maintain a monopoly of the use of force and violence in a given territorial area; in particular, it is the only organization in society that obtains its revenue not by voluntary contribution or payment for services rendered but by coercion."

— Rothbard, Murray event 1974

From Anatomy of the State

Context: Opening definition from Anatomy of the State (1974). Rothbard's starting point for the entire essay: the State is set apart from every other institution in society by its reliance on coercion, rather than voluntary exchange, to obtain its resources.

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policy Theory of the State error Coercion payments Taxation military_tech Power