Albert Jay Nock Quote

"There are two methods, or means, and only two, whereby man's needs and desires can be satisfied. One is the production and exchange of wealth; this is the economic means. The other is the uncompensated appropriation of wealth produced by others; this is the political means."

by:	Albert Jay Nock (1870-1945) American libertarian author, editor, educational theorist, Georgist, social critic
Rating:
Categories:	Desire, Production, Exchange, Wealth, Economics, Theft, Distribution, Force, Politics, Slavery
	Tweet

-- jim k, Austin
So, to produce is economics, and to steal is politics.  Got it. ;-)  -- E Archer, NYC      1 1
Well said Archer  -- Mike, Norwalk      1
-- Ronw13, ID
This quote reflects the mind of an honest but ignorant person.  When people are in 'need' to protect themselves or their loved ones, they will use any means of obtaining what is needed.  Which includes theft, with or without violence (war if needed).  More importantly, nearly every human need is premised on the fact that every person needs clean air, clean water, affordable nutrition, and shelter from nature's extremes to survive and thrive.  If any government fails in its policies to ensure 'liberty and justice for all' it has failed its only legitimate purpose...according to Thomas Paine...to protect the freedom and security of people.  And when a mass of people have disregarded "the Laws of Nature and Nature's God" do NOT expect those people (or anyone with them) to survive and thrive sustainably — regardless of the form of government the majority has approved...and attempts to maintain.  This should be a "self-evident" "truth".  And only a selfish people lacking virtue would conceive of and insist on keeping such a fundamentally flawed form of government as the US constitution has been since its deviation from the fundamental universal principles clearly written into our Declaration of Independence.     -- Chuck Woolery, Rockville      1
To the quote; first, a man's needs, desires and satisfaction must be identified. To an individual, basic needs (that which is a minimal to sustain life) may differ slightly at law (science, nature, etc.). Desires will alter per individual and can only be met by personal perception / interpretation of wealth production and distribution (having nothing to do with true satisfaction with joy. The statement as framed would get a hardy thumbs down from me but, as couched by Archer, I had to smile and rate it with five stars.  -- Mike, Norwalk      1
The mentally ill don't understand what production entails for poet sings that the business man "putting value on the worthless, disregarding priceless wealth." The mentally healthy understand that production is not as much exchange as much as it is just simple forward moving change. Change is production, realizing our dreams for Socialist is a dream realizer and a maker. And as always Socialism is the challenge of social abilities to create.  -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown
(-; The mentally ill {such as Socialists} don't undrstand what production entails. That is one reason why, socialism, in its many / MANY forms has always failed Change can inspire production — BUT — all change to socialism has only created, death, destruction, pain and poverty.  -- Mike, Norwalk
No thanks Mike Norwalk.  -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown

Tweet  Rate this quote! How many stars? 0 1 2 3 4 5	What do YOU think?
Your name:	Your town:     CLICK JUST ONCE!

Get a Quote-A-Day! Free!
Liberty Quotes sent to your mail box.
Email: