block Arbitrary Power

Unrestrained government power

format_quote Quotes

"Nothing distinguishes more clearly conditions in a free country from those in a country under arbitrary government than the observance in the former of the great principle known as the Rule of Law."

— Hayek, Friedrich event 1973

menu_book Law, Legislation and Liberty

shield Rule of Law air Freedom block Arbitrary Power balance Justice

View Full Quote

"This single tyrant need not be combated, need not be defeated; he is automatically defeated if the country refuses to consent to its own enslavement. It is not necessary to deprive him of anything; simply give him nothing. There is no need for the country to do anything for itself, provided it does nothing against itself."

— de La Boétie, Étienne event 1576

menu_book Discourse on Voluntary Servitude

lock Tyranny error Coercion security State Power block Arbitrary Power

View Full Quote

"He who thus domineers over you has only two eyes, only two hands, only one body, no more than is possessed by the least man among the infinite numbers dwelling in your cities; he has indeed nothing more than the power that you confer upon him to destroy you. From where has he acquired enough eyes to spy upon you, if you do not provide them yourselves?"

— de La Boétie, Étienne event 1576

menu_book Discourse on Voluntary Servitude

lock Tyranny block Arbitrary Power military_tech Power security State Power

View Full Quote

auto_stories Books

Discourse on Voluntary Servitude

person de La Boétie, Étienne event 1576

Written around 1549 by the young French magistrate Étienne de La Boétie and first published posthumously in 1576, this founding text of libertarian...

lock Tyranny flag Liberty air Freedom error Coercion military_tech Power block Arbitrary Power security State Power policy Theory of the State account_balance Political Philosophy balance Natural Law person Individualism history_edu Classical Liberalism school French Liberal School