“Considering mankind’s indifference to freedom, their easy gullibility and their facile response to conditioning, one might very plausibly argue that collectivism is the political mode best suited to their disposition and their capacities. Under its regime the citizen, like the soldier, is relieved of the burden of initiative and is divested of all responsibility, save for doing as he is told.”
Albert J. Nock
“It is unfortunately none too well understood that, just as the State has no money of its own, so it has no power of its own.”
Albert J. Nock
“Taking the State wherever found, striking into its history at any point, one sees no way to differentiate the activities of its founders, administrators and beneficiaries from those of a professional-criminal class.”
Albert J. Nock
“Man tends always to satisfy his needs and desires with the least possible exertion.”
Albert J. Nock
“It would seem that in Paine’s view the code of government should be that of the legendary king Pausole, who prescribed but two laws for his subjects, the first being, Hurt no man, and the second, Then do as you please; and that the whole business of government should be the purely negative one of seeing that this code is carried out.”
Albert J. Nock
“… the State has ever shown any disposition to suppress crime, but only to safeguard its own monopoly of crime.”
Albert J. Nock
“Lincoln’s phrase, “of the people, by the people, for the people” was probably the most effective single stroke of propaganda ever made in behalf of republican State prestige.”
Albert J. Nock
Nock was truly a brilliant man, in rare company with Bastiat, Mises, Rothbard and few others.
They described the world not as pervasive mythology would have us believe but how it really is, no matter how painful it might be to see.
Mankind always exists in a fog of illusion.