But which is the State's essential function, aggression or defence, few seem to know or care.
Benjamin TuckerRead
It is foolish in the extreme not only to resort to force before necessity compels, but especially to madly create the conditions that will lead to this necessity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote criticizes the use of force and cautions against creating situations that necessitate it.
Benjamin Tucker emphasizes the irrationality of using force when it is not absolutely necessary and warns against actions that would lead to circumstances where force becomes unavoidable. He suggests a thoughtful approach to conflict, advocating for peace and reason over aggression.
Themes
ForceNecessityConflictPeaceReason
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about military intervention, one might reference this quote to advocate for diplomacy.
More from Benjamin Tucker
All quotes βThe main question ... is not what motive inspired the law, but what it will be possible for men of bad motive to do with the law.
Benjamin TuckerRead
There is no freedom that I would grant to any man that I would refuse to woman, and there is no freedom that I would refuse to either man or woman except the freedom to invade ... whoever has the ballot has the freedom to invade, and whoever wants the ballot wants the freedom to invade. Give woman equality with man, by all means; but do it by taking power from man, not giving it to woman.
Benjamin TuckerRead
Government is the assumption of authority over a given area and all within it, exercised generally for the double purpose of more complete oppression of its subjects and extension of its boundaries.
Benjamin TuckerRead
Voting is merely a labor-saving device for ascertaining on which side force lies and bowing to the inevitable... It is neither more nor less than a paper representative of the bayonet, the bully, and the bullet.
Benjamin TuckerRead
To force a man to pay for the violation of his own liberty is indeed an addition of insult to injury.
Benjamin TuckerRead
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