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No one may threaten or commit violence ('aggress') against another man's person or property. Violence may be employed only against the man who commits such violence; that is, only defensively against the aggressive violence of another. In short, no violence may be employed against a non-aggressor. Here is the fundamental rule from which can be deduced the entire corpus of libertarian theory.
Murray Rothbard
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Violence is only justifiable in self-defense against aggression, not against non-aggressors.

The quote emphasizes the core libertarian principle that violence should only be used defensively against those who commit aggression. It asserts that initiating violence against someone who has not engaged in any aggressive act is fundamentally wrong, thereby establishing a foundational rule for liberty and justice. This idea advocates for respect of individual rights and property, and defines the moral limits of permissible actions within a society.

Themes

ViolenceSelf-DefenseAggressionLibertarianismIndividual Rights

In practice

Example use cases

In a debate about personal freedoms, this quote could frame the discussion around the limits of acceptable force.

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Quote by Murray Rothbard | QuoteProject