The average man’s love of liberty is nine-tenth imaginary, exactly like his love of sense,
justice, and truth.
—H. L. Mencken, 1923
In our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech,
freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them.
—Mark Twain, 1897
He was jeopardizing his traditional rights of freedom and independence by daring to
exercise them.
—Joseph Heller, 1961
***
Since people will never cease trying to interfere with the liberties of others in pursuing their
own, the State can never wither away.
—W. H. Auden, 1946
Society is produced by our wants and government by our wickedness.
—Thomas Paine, 1776
If men were angels, no government would be necessary.
—James Madison, 1788
Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of men will not conform
to the dictates of reason and justice, without constraint.
—Alexander Hamilton, 1788
The only use of government is to repress the vices of man.
22
—Percy Bysshe Shelley, 1812
It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can stop him from lynching
me, and I think that’s pretty important.
—Martin Luther King Jr., 1964
Those who fear men like laws.
—Luc de Clapiers, 1746
The most desirable state of mankind, is that which maintains general security, with the
smallest encroachment upon individual independence.
—William Godwin, 1793
***
The most powerful factors in the world are clear ideas in the minds of energetic men of
good will.
—Arthur Thomson, 1922
22
For more on government, see the next section.
On Society and Solitude, Liberty and Civilization
155
justice, and truth.
—H. L. Mencken, 1923
In our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech,
freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them.
—Mark Twain, 1897
He was jeopardizing his traditional rights of freedom and independence by daring to
exercise them.
—Joseph Heller, 1961
***
Since people will never cease trying to interfere with the liberties of others in pursuing their
own, the State can never wither away.
—W. H. Auden, 1946
Society is produced by our wants and government by our wickedness.
—Thomas Paine, 1776
If men were angels, no government would be necessary.
—James Madison, 1788
Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of men will not conform
to the dictates of reason and justice, without constraint.
—Alexander Hamilton, 1788
The only use of government is to repress the vices of man.
22
—Percy Bysshe Shelley, 1812
It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can stop him from lynching
me, and I think that’s pretty important.
—Martin Luther King Jr., 1964
Those who fear men like laws.
—Luc de Clapiers, 1746
The most desirable state of mankind, is that which maintains general security, with the
smallest encroachment upon individual independence.
—William Godwin, 1793
***
The most powerful factors in the world are clear ideas in the minds of energetic men of
good will.
—Arthur Thomson, 1922
22
For more on government, see the next section.
On Society and Solitude, Liberty and Civilization
155