First ask yourselves, Gentlemen, what an Englishman, a French-man, and a citizen of the United States of America understand today by the word 'liberty'. For each of them it is the right to be subjected only to the laws, and to be neither arrested, detained, put to death or maltreated in any way by the arbitrary will of one or more individuals. It is the right of everyone to express their opinion, choose a profession and practice it, to dispose of property, and even to abuse it; to come and go without permission, and without having to account for their motives or undertakings. It is everyone's right to associate with other individuals, either to discuss their interests, or to profess the religion which they and their associates prefer, or even simply to occupy their days or hours in a way which is most compatible with their inclinations or whims. Finally it is everyone's right to exercise some influence on the administration of the government, either by electing all or particular officials, or through representations, petitions, demands to which the authorities are more or less compelled to pay heed.
-- Benjamin Constant, "The Liberty of Ancients Compared with that of Moderns" [1816]
Apparently FFF is working on their site. Either that or they object to me doing postings like this and I'm blocked personally, but I almost always find that my paranoid feelings are foolish. Almost always.
FREEDOM BIOGRAPHY:
BENJAMIN CONSTANT
Benjamin Constant (1867-1830)
Acton Institute
Benjamin Constant: Liberty and Private Life
by Jim Powell
Foundation for Economic Education
Individual Liberty and Civil Society [1993]
by Richard M. Ebeling
Future of Freedom Foundation
Book Review: Principles of Politics Applicable to All Governments
by Richard M. Ebeling
Foundation for Economic Education
The Liberty of Ancients Compared with that of Moderns
by Benjamin Constant
University of Arkansas
Here's what else they're up to:
FFF Daily Commentaries (Updated Today)
Freedom Biographies
Immigration Project
Spreading the Word New! Drug War News
Economy News
Gun Control News
Law News
I should add this:
fff@fff.org
www.fff.org
© 2005 The Future of Freedom Foundation. All rights reserved.
They email me these things, so I figure that widening the distribution of them won't be a problem.
