It is unfortunately none too well understood that, just as the State has no money of its own, … - Albert J. Nock

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I don't have any ideas; my coaches have them. I just pass the ideas on and referee the arguments.

Albert J. Nock

It is unfortunately none too well understood that, just as the State has no money of its own, so it has no power of its own. All the power it has is what society gives it, plus what it confiscates from time to time on one pretext or another, there is no other source from which State power can be drawn. Therefore every assumption of State power, whether by gift or seizure leaves society with so much less power; there is never, nor can be, any strengthening of State power without a corresponding and roughly equivalent depletion of social power.

Assumption, Giving, Power, Roughly, Social, State

Same Author Quotes

Like all predatory or parasitic institutions, the state's first instinct is that of self-preservati on. All its enterprises are directed first towards preserving its own life, and, second, towards increasing its own power and enlarging the scope of its own activity. For the sake of this it will, and regularly does, commit any crime which circumstances make expedient.

Doe, Parasitic, Predatory, Sake, Scope, Self

The question of who is right and who is wrong has seemed to me always too small to be worth a moment's thought, while the question of what is right and what is wrong has seemed all-important.

Important, Moments, Right, Seemed, Thought, Wrong

In proportion as you give the state power to do things for you, you give it power to do things to you.

Giving, Proportion, State, States, Things

The State claims and exercises the monopoly of crime. It forbids private murder, but itself organizes murder on a colossal scale. It punishes private theft, but itself lays unscrupulous hands on anything it wants, whether the property of citizen or of alien.

Citizens, Claims, Crime, Exercise, Forbids, Hands

According to my observations, mankind are among the most easily tamable and domesticable of all creatures in the animal world. They are readily reducible to submission, so readily conditionable (to coin a word) as to exhibit an almost incredibly enduring patience under restraint and oppression of the most flagrant character. So far are they from displaying any overweening love of freedom that they show a singular contentment with a condition of servitorship, often showing a curious canine pride in it, and again often simply unaware that they are existing in that condition.

Animal, Character, Oppression, Overweening, Pride