"There is one and only one principle, on which you can build a true, rightful, enduring and progressive civilization, which can give peace and friendliness and contentment to all differing groups and sects into which we are divided—and that principle is that every man and woman should be held by us all sacredly and religiously to be the one true owner of his or her faculties, of his or her body and mind, and of all property, inherited or — honestly acquired. There is no other possible foundation — seek it wherever you will — on which you can build, if you honestly mean to make this world a place of peace and friendship, where progress of every kind, like a full river fed by its many streams, may flow on its happy fertilizing course, with ever broadening and deepening volume. Deny that self-ownership, that self-guidance of the individual, and however fine our professed motives may be, we must sooner or later, in a world without rights, become like animals who prey on each other. Deny human rights, and however little you may wish to do so, you will find yourself abjectly kneeling at the feet of that old-world god, Force — that grimmest and ugliest of gods that men have ever carved for themselves out of the lusts of their hearts; you will find yourselves hating and dreading all other men who differ from you; you will find yourselves obliged by the law of conflict into which you have plunged, to use every means in your power to crush them before they are able to crush you; you will find yourselves day by day growing more unscrupulous and intolerant, more and more compelled by the fear of those opposed to you, to commit harsh and violent actions, of which you would once have said 'Is thy servant a dog that he should do these things?'; you will find yourselves clinging to and welcoming Force, as the one and only form of protection left to you, when you have destroyed the rule of the great principles."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Members of the Parliament of the United KingdomPhilosophers from EnglandNon-fiction authors from EnglandRight-libertarians
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Imported from EN Wikiquote
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Auberon_Herbert
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Auberon Herbert
Auberon Edward William Molyneux Herbert (18 June 1838 – 5 November 1906) was a writer, theorist, philosopher, and 19th century individualist. A member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, Herbert was a son of the 3rd Earl of Carnarvon. He was Member of Parliament for the two member constituency of Nottingham between 1870–1874.
14 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Auberon Herbert →
Related Quotes
"Of all the miserable, unprofitable, inglorious wars in the world is the war against words. Let men say just what they…"
"Deny human rights, and however little you may wish to do so, you will find yourself abjectly kneeling at the feet of …"
"When once you have plunged into the strife for power, it is the fear of those who are seeking for power over you that…"
"Who shall count up the evil brood that is born from power - the pitiful fear, the madness, the despair, the overpower…"
"If we cannot by reason, by influence, by example, by strenuous effort, and by personal sacrifice, mend the bad places…"
"How, then, can the rights of three men exceed the rights of two men? In what possible way can the rights of three men…"
"We voluntaryists believe that no true progress can be made until we frankly recognize the great truth that every indi…"
"We hold that the one and only one true basis of society is the frank recognition of these rights of self-ownership; t…"
"State socialism is the refusal to others and the abandonment for oneself of all true human rights. Under it a man wou…"
"Because free countries have affirmed many years ago that a compulsory church rate is immoral and oppressive, for the …"