
“Popular suffrage is in itself no guarantee of freedom. People can vote themselves into slavery.”
Source: The Income Tax: Root of All Evil (1954), p. 61
Source: Reflections
“Popular suffrage is in itself no guarantee of freedom. People can vote themselves into slavery.”
Source: The Income Tax: Root of All Evil (1954), p. 61
“Partial freedom seems to me the most invidious form of slavery.”
As quoted in "Is the Party Over?" https://www.nationalaffairs.com/publications/detail/is-the-party-over (2017), by Daniel Ritchie, National Affairs
Five Essays on Liberty (2002), Introduction (1969)
The Blood of the Hungarians (1957)
Context: Hungary conquered and in chains has done more for freedom and justice than any people for twenty years. But for this lesson to get through and convince those in the West who shut their eyes and ears, it was necessary, and it can be no comfort to us, for the people of Hungary to shed so much blood which is already drying in our memories. In Europe's isolation today, we have only one way of being true to Hungary, and that is never to betray, among ourselves and everywhere, what the Hungarian heroes died for, never to condone, among ourselves and everywhere, even indirectly, those who killed them. It would indeed be difficult for us to be worthy of such sacrifices.
“It is far better for a man to go wrong in freedom than to go right in chains.”
“It is infinitely better to vote for freedom and fail than to vote for slavery and succeed.”
Competition versus Cooperation (1900)
Context: I would address a few words to those who are in sympathy with the Social Democratic Party, but who hesitate to vote for it for fear they may lose their votes. Let me say to you: It is infinitely better to vote for freedom and fail than to vote for slavery and succeed.
Speech at the Virginia Convention to ratify the Federal Constitution http://www.constitution.org/rc/rat_va_05.htm (6 June 1788)
Speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention on the Control of the Military (16 June 1788); published in The History of the Virginia Federal Convention of 1788, with some account by eminent Virginians of that era who were members of that body (1890), Vol. I, p. 130 (Hugh Blair Grigsby et al, editors, )
1780s
Context: Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations; but, on a candid examination of history, we shall find that turbulence, violence, and abuse of power, by the majority trampling on the rights of the minority, have produced factions and commotions, which, in republics, have, more frequently than any other cause, produced despotism. If we go over the whole history of ancient and modern republics, we shall find their destruction to have generally resulted from those causes.