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About this quote

What does it mean?
Tucker claims anarchists do not expect liberty to bring perfection but argue it yields better results than authority.
In plain terms
Liberty is not perfect but better than authority.
What can you take from it?
Choose liberty for better outcomes even if not perfect.

Where it applies

  • political comparisons
  • evaluating systems
  • debating governance

Putting it to work

  • assess liberty outcomes
  • critique authority
  • promote freedom

Questions to consider

  • Is perfection required for a good system?
  • Does liberty always outperform authority?

Another view

It assumes liberty consistently produces better results without proof.

More from Benjamin Tucker

  1. Voluntary taxation, far from impairing the 'State's' credit, would strengthen it. In the first place, the simplification of its functions would greatly reduce,…

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  2. Once for all, then, we are not opposed to the punishment of thieves and murderers; we are opposed to their manufacture.

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  3. Why, the very first act of the State, the compulsory assessment and collection of taxes, is itself an aggression, a violation of equal liberty, and, as such, i…

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