But which is the State's essential function, aggression or defence, few seem to know or care.
Benjamin TuckerRead
Anarchism does not repudiate the right of ownership, but it has a conception thereof sufficiently different from [others'] to include the possibility of an end of that social organization which will arise, not out of the ruins of government, but out of the transformation of government into voluntary association for defence.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Anarchism believes in ownership but envisions it within a framework of voluntary associations instead of government control.
This quote by Benjamin Tucker encapsulates a fundamental tenet of anarchism, which is the belief in the right to ownership but distinguishes itself by proposing a future where ownership and social organization transform from governmental authority to voluntary cooperation among individuals. It suggests a vision of society where people unite for mutual protection and support, rather than being governed by coercive structures.
Themes
AnarchismOwnershipVoluntary AssociationGovernmentSociety
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on political philosophies, one might use this quote to illustrate anarchism's view on ownership.
More from Benjamin Tucker
All quotes →The 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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To force a man to pay for the violation of his own liberty is indeed an addition of insult to injury.
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