Lysander SpoonerLysander Spooner, (1808-1887) Political theorist, activist, abolitionist

Lysander Spooner Quote

“[T]he only security men can have for their political liberty, consists in keeping their money in their own pockets ...”

Lysander SpoonerLysander Spooner
~ Lysander Spooner


Ratings and Comments


Mike, Norwalk

We hold this truth to be self evident and proven over, and over, and over again.

Waffler, Smith

There has to be more to political liberty than this doesn't it? If you take a broad definition of "money", that is,all that you have and hold dear including life itself, the founders knew that you had to invest it for liberties sake. Thus we had Patrick Henry and so many others willing to sacrifice self and possessions for either liberty or the gallows. The notion that American liberty is about only money is a sick one indeed. The more Lysander quotes I read the less I like him.

Anonymous, Reston, VA, US

Waffler has it right. It can only be a sick mind that so prizes "money" as to believe that holding it close is the definition of liberty... such beliefs remind me of the character of Gollum.

jim k, Austin, Tx

Waff and Reston, spoken like two big government lefties. Spooner didn't say that the ONLY notion of liberty was money but I suspect this quote suggests keeping your money away from those big spenders in Washington.

cal, lewisville, tx

Spooner was speaking in the days when money was gold and silver. Federal Reserve Notes are owned only by the government so the security is gone today.

J Carlton, Calgary

How does the left justify theft. Because that is what is at the core of all their immoral values. "They can't justify it" is the correct answer. They are theives.

Mike, Norwalk

Waffler, I believe if you actually read more of Spooner you would come to despise him. Spooner was all about individual freedom, liberty, sovereignty, inalienable rights, personal responsibility, law and justice. If you you'd have read more of Spooner you would have also known that the reference is to financing of one's own slavery. If people wouldn't accept funny money as an equal to weights and measures intrinsic value money or, pay a slave's tribute (income, property, etc. tax or, pay civil penalties for criminal infractions, etc., etc., etc.) the statist theocracy infesting this land wouldn't have the where-with-all to implement all its many wars, foreign and domestic (back to the quote, robbing the individuals of their personal freedom).

Waffler, Smith

As some know Mike political liberty often comes from people with no or little money uniting together. We saw it in the American Revolution and we see it now in the Middle East. It is amazing how poorly financed movements can grow. Right doing and justice is beyond mere filthy lucre. My reading of Spooner says he is a cheap skate, self centered ninconpoop. But I always keep an open mind.

J Carlton, Calgary

Waffler, as always you are convoluted and make no sense at all. You're twisted writings are a reflection of an equally twisted mind.

Mike, Norwalk

Waffler, in the Middle East ? Where did all those poor terrorists (Muslim Brotherhood, etc.) get all those tanks, rockets, cannons, etc. without money ? On occasion, liberty is acquired with little money BUT, the people there after still have to finance their own demise through socialism, taxation, funny money, or otherwise.

Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown

I really don't understand Mr Spooner's summation here. I surmise as with all the contributors and other posters, not including myself of course, that it is a great assistance to be fluent in the language of hard criminal. Socialism is the challenge of social abilities to create wholesomeness and proper behavior.

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