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About this quote

What does it mean?
Historically, free men followed laws without needing permission. Today, this independence is questionable.
In plain terms
Free people used to follow rules without asking permission; now that's doubtful.
What can you take from it?
Check how much autonomy you actually have.

Where it applies

  • legal systems
  • civil liberties

Putting it to work

  • review regulatory burden

Questions to consider

  • Do you need permission for daily tasks?
  • Has bureaucracy increased in your life?

Another view

Security needs may justify some oversight.

More from Friedrich Hayek

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  2. Liberty is an opportunity for doing good, but this is only so when it is also an opportunity for doing wrong.

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  3. It is indeed probable that more harm and misery have been caused by men determined to use coercion to stamp out a moral evil than by men intent on doing evil.

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