Another strange notion pervading whole peoples is that the State has money of its own; and nowhere is this absurdity more firmly fixed than in America. The State has no money. It produces nothing. It existence is purely parasitic, maintained by taxation; that is to say, by forced levies on the production of others. 'Government money,' of which one hears so much nowadays, does not exist; there is no such thing.
Albert J. NockI have often wondered why the sounds of the beating drums do not make the marching soldiers shoot their officers and go home.
Albert J. NockIn proportion as you give the state power to do things for you, you give it power to do things to you.
Albert J. NockFor the majority of people liberty means only the system and the administrators they are used to.
Albert J. NockYou get the same order of criminality from any State to which you give power to exercise it; and whatever power you give the State to do things for you carries with it the equivalent power to do things to you.
Albert J. NockLike all predatory or parasitic institutions, its first instinct is that of self-preservation. All its enterprises are directed first towards preserving its own life, and, second, towards increasing its own power and enlarging the scope of its own activity. For the sake of this it will, and regularly does, commit any crime which circumstances make expedient.
Albert J. Nock