“This right to life, this right to liberty, and this right to pursue one’s happiness is unabashedly individualistic, without in the slightest denying at the same time our thoroughly social nature.   It’s only that our social relations, while vital to us all, must be chosen -­ that is what makes the crucial difference.”

Craig, I'm interested. Why only 2 stars ?

Philosophies of distrust seed authoritarianism, philosophies of trust support liberty and serendipity.

A “right(s)”, is an inherent lawful faculty of matter (subatomic particle, etc. – the most fundamental building bloc of life; a noun) specific to sentient creation. “Right” is the primal expression of individual just actions and, manifestation of each and every person’s innate liberty. Right is an absolute, denominated, perfect and qualified rectitude - limited and equal to/within each and every, any and all life’s conception and foundation. Right(s) uniformly exist in and uniquely pertain to an individual (rights do no extend to any third party involvement). Right(s) exist at the laws of nature and of nature’s God as well as relate to equity (Ancient Hebrew, Greek, Roman and Chancery)

By example: self-defense of the being, vocalizing love or hate, choice of belief system and life itself are all expressions of “right(s)”. Voting is not a right. Voting may be a moral imperative, a duty, a responsibility or a need but it is nothing more than a beyond individual suggestion for a group thought or administration.

The body politic of servants within the de jure States united was to represent “right(s)”, not individuals as, all rights within each individual is/are equal before the law while, each person is different with different needs, wants, expectations, perceptions, religions, etc. The Declaration of Independence clears-up the subject matter in writ when it describes: “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men”.

Very interesting. We can only be real social animals if we allow others to NOT be social if they so desire. The freedom to not be tied to others, allowing each individual to choose if wanting or not to associate. Loved this quote.