The Right To Ignore The State

Herbert Spencer

As a government can rightly act for the people only when empowered by them, so also can it rightly act for the individual only when empowered by him.

But they who maintain that the people are the only legitimate source of power—that legislative authority is not original, but deputed—cannot deny the right to ignore the State without entangling themselves in an absurdity.

And must not government cease when crime ceases, for very lack of objects on which to perform its function?