"The battle for the world is the battle for definitions."
by:
Thomas Szasz
(1920-2012) Hungarian-American Professor of Psychiatry, Author, Libertarian
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Reader comments about this quote:
Indeed. 'Patriot Act', 'Free Trade', 'Camp Liberty' , 'Federal Reserve' -- all are opposites of what the wording implies -- look at 90% of the names of bills in Congress -- most have names that are completely opposite of what they really do. By redefining words to mean their opposites, we don't realize that our Free Republic is now a Socialist State.
 -- E Archer, NYC     
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    a rose ,is a rose is rose,???????????????? as a quote.,is a quote, is a quote is a quote??????
     -- d1ana donnelly, storrs     
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    Liberty:1: the quality or state of being free: a: the power to do as one pleases b: freedom from physical restraint c: freedom from arbitrary or despotic control d: the positive enjoyment of various social, political, or economic rights and privileges e: the power of choice As opposed to say..The Patriot Act
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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    The oldest offensive in the world; you accuse those of what you are doing - bait and switch - humans will never change. Definitions are provided by the victors. In the absolute a Rose is a Rose but we don't live in the absolute.
     -- RobertSRQ     
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    Spoken like a tru Democrat. Hate the quote but it is accurate.
     -- warren, olathe     
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    So, can anyone find the book where Szasz said this?
     -- William, Laramie     
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    Liberty Tree should provide the complete citation for every quote used. To not do so makes them interesting, but useless.
     -- Bob, North Yarmouth     
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    A perfect example of doing the opposite of what the wording implies is The Affordable health Care Act. As PJ O'Rourke once said," If you think health care is expensive, wait till you see how much it costs when it's free." We are seeing this now.
     -- jim k, Austin, Tx     
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    Usury, Nashak a prim root, to strike with a sting ! To oppress with interest on a loan. Is it not ironic that both camps are at fault through corporate privilege and usury, that nether wishes to reinstate our freedom to the sovereign freeborn. Then they would all look like fools and wolves, foxes in the chicken coop.
    Constructive fraud !!!! The case has been made many times in support of the individual but never for the nation of sovereign individuals as a whole.
     -- watchman 13, USA     
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    Seriously?!?!?! Szasz along with Jefferson and Burke in the same daily Liberty quotes newsletter?!?!?! A Jewish Hungarian psychiatrist along side Burke and Jefferson?!?!?! Not the same league - not the same ball park - not even the same planet. And BTW he died over a year ago.

    Merry Christmas (screw the PC "Happy Holidays") to Eric and all the fans of Liberty.
    Jimi
     -- Jimi Bigbear, Libertyville, IA     
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    Lenin's "A lie told often enough becomes the truth" here comes to mind. Also, make up 2 or 3 new definitions and then pick the one that works for the minute. The term "law" within the Constitutionally set law of nature and of nature's God has an entirely different meaning than now enforced by the occupying statist theocracy infesting this land. Executive, legislative and judicial gods now create law at a whim. An extremely terse list of words and phrases, such as: a more perfect union, justice, general welfare, uniform throughout the United States, regulate commerce, war, money, titles of nobility, well-regulate Malitas, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed, The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, are examples of definitions changing.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    In conjunction with Mikes statement, " The one" who first seizes the word imposes reality on the other, "the one" who defines thus Dominates and lives; "the one" who is defined is subjugated and may be killed." Szasz. The roll of language in the establishment and maintenance of the social order. Szasz was a critic of the influence of modern medicine on society, which he considered to be the secularisation of religions hold on mankind. Criticizing "scientism , "empirical science, the only authority of absolute truth. The struggle for definition is veritably the struggle for life itself. Whoever first defines the situation is the victor, his adversary, the victim. Who defines who as troublesome or mentally sick? He maintained that, by calling people diseased, psychiatry attempts to deny them responsibility as Moral Agents in order to better control them. The " Myth of mental illness". There are six degrees of separation.( six the number of man). Frigyes Karinthy, any two people can be connected in a maximum of six steps. An optimal algorithm to calculate degrees of separation within social networks. Applied in social networks as Twitter. 3.88 can be found by making 13.3 request. 3.4 between two users 67 request needed. A near - optimal solution of length. He was, no doubt, in Plato's camp. As were some of our Founding Fathers.
     -- Ronw13, Oregon     
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    Sorry, it is 3.43 between two users. 67 request. 6+7=13. 3.88 can be found by 13.3 request. Contact made, notice 13 stripes and 13 stars. There are three steps in understanding the origin of forgiveness, the word of truth, the amount of forgiveness of trespasses and sins, this removes the veil allowing 13 questions. with this applied understanding, an individual can understand liberty obtained through recognizing it universal origins. Psalm 19:1. The right to rebellion for a just cause. 13 being the number of rebellion. The Spirit bears witness of itself through logic and mathematics for the believer. for those who believe not, they cannot deny the laws of nature when applied. Formulations for the physical and spiritual realms are in harmony. There is no conflict between Liberty and social justice. Only a secular socialist or a socialisict religion would promote conflict, where there is none.
     -- Ronw13, Oregon     
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    Designing secular humanist, socialist, social engineering within the highest levels of government, demanding homosexuality be made a moral "right" enabling nature to reduce the population through and by immoral behavior. Sick and corrupt ! Spiritual wickedness in high places. Industrial revolutions answer to their, caused, over population and depletion of natural resources.
     -- Ronw13, Oregon     
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    He that plants the seed first, reaps the fruit to follow. which gives life. The plant of Liberty once taken root, grows rapidly, as Washington tells clearly. A very wise man in understanding the source of Vision and Revelation ! Also understanding, those, that would take advantage through "privilege" of a central government ! Give me liberty or give me death !
     -- Ronw13, Oregon     
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    People are given to mimic their environment, those that will not submit, are those "At Liberty" to think for themselves. The Spirit of Liberty, is a Wild Spirit. More powerful than the atom bomb !
     -- Ronw13, Oregon     
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     -- jim k, Austin      
    The 'narrative' is the attempt to rewrite 'history.'  "The science is settled."
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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