|  |  |  |   L. Neil Smith's THE LIBERTARIAN ENTERPRISE Number 277, June 27, 2004 "...the traffic jam at the spaceport..."   The Kaptain's Log
 Exclusive to TLE It may well be that I have finally said all that I have to say. I hesitate to publish this conclusion lest my legions of critics keep their neighbours awake all night from the sound of their partying. Recently, however, I find that I am repeating myself (or did I mention that already?) and fear that I may become like the Firesign Theatre's fabled ode to government, the Department of Redundancy Dept. So, this week, at least, I shall inspire my loyal readership with the words of other, more articulate observers of the human race. The following are quotations I have gathered from reading both online and off. The great thing about believers in Liberty is that they can speak for themselves: "The guilds of the Northmen were brought about not by coercion but by 
an awareness that a freely-given allegiance to a group will give that 
group coherence and strength."
 "In a republican nation whose citizens are to be led by reason and 
persuasion and not by force, the art of reasoning becomes of first 
importance."
 "Persuasion, not coercion!"
 "The pride of nationalism... trumpets its country's virtues and 
denies its deficiencies... proclaims itself to be, 'the greatest,' 
but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is."
 "If the government can take a man's money without his consent, there 
is no limit to the additional tyranny that it may practise upon him; 
for, with his money, it can hire soldiers to stand over him, keep him 
in subjection, plunder him at discretion, and kill him if he resists."
 "We [the Beatles] said that... the government doesn't own you."
 "Without freedom of thought there can be no such thing as wisdom; and 
no such thing as public liberty, without freedom of speech.  Whoever 
would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the 
freeness of speech."
 "...stealing does not only violate religious doctrine; it violates 
basic human rights.  So does abortion."
 ""What is morally wrong can never be advantageous, even when it 
enables you to make some gain that you believe to be to your 
advantage."
 " Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it."
 "To take action in the face of a corrupt government entails risks of 
harm to life and loved ones.  To choose to do nothing is to surrender 
one's self-image of standing for principles.  Most people do not have 
the courage to face that choice.  Hence, most propaganda is not 
designed to fool the critical thinker but only to give moral cowards 
an excuse not to think at all."
 "In 1960, when I came out of prison, as an ex-convict I had more 
freedom under parolee supervision than there's available to an 
average citizen in America right now... God almighty, what have we 
done to each other?"
 "So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. 
Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, 
and demand that they respect yours.  Love your life, protect your 
life, beautify all things in your life.  Seek to make your life long 
and its purposes in the service of your people.  Prepare a noble 
death song for the day when you go over the great divide.  Always 
give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, 
even a stranger, when in a lonely place.  Show respect to all people 
and grovel to none.
 "Peace and Liberty."
 
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