"There's no way to rule innocent men.
The only power government has is the power to crack down on criminals.
Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them.
One declares so many things to be a crime
that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws."
by:
Ayn Rand
[Alisa Zinov'yevna Rosenbaum] (1905-1982) Russian-American novelist, philosopher, playwright, and screenwriter
Rating:
Categories:
 
Bookmark and Share  
Reader comments about this quote:
Exactly right!
 -- Reb Aaron, Jerusalem     
  • 1
  •  
    If Rand were alive today she would see her quotation being played out right before her eyes.
     -- A.Jurgensen, Stuart FL     
  • 2
  •  
    When there aren't enough criminals,the powers that be make criminals of the innocent so I say there is a way to rule innocent men.To make innocence a crime.I have seen examples of this.So,when it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws,INNOCENCE becomes EXTINCT!
     -- Me Again     
  • 1 1
  •  
    At any given time we're almost always guilty of something stupid that has nothing to do with justice.
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
  • 3
  •  
    I have cited many examples of this but, the one that is still very close to the heart is my friend that had no grand jury hear his case and only invalid statutes were presented at the origination of his case. Subject trascripts and related documents have been changed at least twice since his imprisonment. The theocratic collective is doing well, being represented by an omni - present/lawed despot criminal(s).
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
  • 1
  •  
    Our racist drug laws are a perfect example. I'm waiting for the government to force everyone to drink decaf coffee.
     -- jim k, austin, tx     
  • 1
  •  
    To balance the trade deficit with the rest of the world, the U.S. should export a lawyer and/or a politician for every million dollars of red ink.
     -- Ron, Decatur, GA     
  • 2
  •  
    Ayn Rand ispires me. I think we need to do something about it. I think we should all do ONE thing each day to make our government better. Be it a letter, a phone call, or even just talking about it, do something to change the drug laws, the way the court and its officers treat people of color or who are not as smart as everyone else.
     -- Cheryl, Avenal     
  • 1
  •  
    Though there are still issues with color, more than that, today's courts are drunk with power and corrupt to the core. I have recently been made aware of an individual that was forced to walk outside the lines in a cross walk because a vehicle impeded his right of way. He is now (virtually a political prisoner) serving 6 months for jay walking. A habeas corpus attempt has been thwarted due to said prisoner being constantly moved from jail to jail.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
  • 1
  •  
    While I do not agree with a portion of Rand's "selfishness" paradigm, I agree with her outcome.
     -- Logan, Memphis, TN     
  •  
    For a country that has one of the highest number of church goers and one that is continuingly touting family values, it's amazing we have the highest number incarcerated.
     -- RobertSRQ     
  •  
    It is often impossible not to be breaking a law. Environmental laws in particular conflict with each other such that if you obey one law, you instantly break another.
     -- Ken, Allyn, WA     
  • 1
  •  
    'Criminal Justice' is BIG business, and employs millions. We forget that when we live at the expense of the state, the state lives at the expense of us.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
  • 1
  •  
    She is my hero.
     -- warren, olathe     
  •  
    Cheryl, Avenal The best thing for everyone to do would be to read and understand everything Ayn Rand wrote. She had first hand experience with socialism at its worst and could see the road we were going down towards it.
     -- warren, olathe     
  • 1
  •  
     -- Anonymous      
    I can't even begin to list the number of good and decent people I know who have been arrested. For example, anyone who resists a criminal attack will be arrested for assaulting the poor robber or rapist. I knew someone who was arrested for having a tire iron in his car. People are shamed into silence. We should all share about our arrests and then people would know it's not their fault.
     -- George, Columbia, MD     
  • 1
  •  
     -- brian, cincinnati      
    I can't believe that they expect people to pay money when they aren't permitted to work....when you are mobbed out of your job what can you do...The whole world is filled with a bunch of secret societies in which destroy peoples lives and make it impossible to make or earn a living. I am tired of the black listing. and because of it the country's economy is failing. When you destroy others' earnings you are destroying your own because they can't purchase goods without a paycheck.
     -- Corky, Dayton     
  • 1
  •  
     -- Anonymous      
    Most western democracies are evolving into police states where every aspect of our conduct is legislated and regulated for our own good.
     -- Anonymous     
  • 1
  •  
     -- GraceD, New York      
    And brilliant as she was, even Ayn Rand did not envision the socialized medicine hellhole into which we are descending, courtesy of the legal profession inserting itself into the doctor - patient relationship and the politicians fostering medical insurance as part of employee compensation via tax favor.
     -- Margot, Glen Ellyn Illinois     
  • 1
  •  
     -- Anonymous      
     -- Eliot, Ames, IA      
     -- Kyla Sharon, Fretingsburg      
     -- Kyla Sharon, Fretingsburg      
     -- jim k, Austin      
    Just to show how out of control this is, the lockdown of Western civilization while promoting lawless rioting has been done to implement Marxist ideology.  Rioters are not charged and even encouraged to riot more, while the rest of the populace has been ordered to stay home.  No person to person connections.  No handshake, no kiss on the cheek, no hug, no human contact.  Wear a mask (that cannot protect one from a virus), report on your neighbors.  No commerce without explicit permission from authorities.  Contact tracing (!!) i.e. 24/7 surveillance of all your movements, contact with others and who those people are. (!!)  People being arrested for social media posts that publish forbidden information.  Maskless beach goers arrested by SWAT teams.  Drones spying on people on their own property for social distancing.  This is beyond 1984, this is 2020!
     -- E Archer, NYC     
  •  
    Although she is correct, like a Marxist she insulted our Christian nation namely the Bill of Rights and "The Perfect Law of Liberty." She was and still is a double edge sword. Her work should be avoided by free people, less we forget where are values lay.
     -- Don Lee, RENO     
  • 2
  •  
     
    Rate this quote!
    How many stars?
    0
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5

     
    What do YOU think?
    Your name:
    Your town:
        CLICK JUST ONCE!

    More Quotations
    Get a Quote-A-Day! Free!
    Liberty Quotes sent to your mail box.
    RSS Subscribe
    Quotes & Quotations - Send This Quote to a Friend

    © 1998-2024 Liberty-Tree.ca