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About this quote

What does it mean?
Tucker suggests that defense was originally a necessity that the state co-opted, which ironically points toward the state's eventual destruction as progress continues.
In plain terms
State control of defense might actually lead to the end of the state.
What can you take from it?
Recognize defense as a force that undermines state power.

Where it applies

  • historical analysis of state
  • future of government
  • defense policy

Putting it to work

  • evaluate state functions
  • predict political change
  • study state decline

Questions to consider

  • Does protecting citizens weaken the state long term?
  • Is defense a path to liberty or control?

Another view

It assumes progress naturally leads to state abolition without evidence.

More from Benjamin Tucker

  1. This distinction between invasion and resistance, between government and defence, is vital. Without it there can be no valid philosophy of politics. Upon this …

    Permalink to quote #16
  2. Taking this view of the matter, the Anarchists contend that defence is not an essential of the State, but that aggression is.

    Permalink to quote #18
  3. Aggression is simply another name for government. Aggression, invasion, government, are interconvertible terms. The essence of government is control, or the at…

    Permalink to quote #15

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