Tuesday 29 October 2024

Ludwig Von Mises on Anarchism


“There are people who call government an evil, although a necessary evil. However, what is needed in order to attain a definite end must not be called an evil ... . Government may even be called the most beneficial of all earthly institutions as without it no peaceful human cooperation, no civilization and no moral life would be possible.” 
~ from Economic Freedom and Interventionism, p. 57.

"Anarchism misunderstands the real nature of man." 
~ from Liberalism, pp. 36-7.

“Liberalism differs radically from anarchism. It has nothing in common with the absurd illusions of the anarchists ... . Liberalism is not so foolish as to aim at the abolition of the state.” 
~ from Omnipotent Government, p. 48.

"[Anarchists are' shallow-minded, dull, [and suffer from] illusions and self-deception.” 
~ from The Ultimate Foundation of Economic Science, pp. 98-9

"I am not an 'enemy of the state' any more than I can be called an enemy of sulphuric acid because I am of the opinion that, useful though it may be for many purposes, it is not suitable either for drinking or for washing one's hands." 
~ from Liberalism, p. 38

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