Natural Obedience, Natural Reason

...if we led our lives according to the ways intended by nature and the lessons taught by her, we should be intuitively obedient to our parents; later we should adopt reason as our guide and become slaves to nobody

 Étienne de La Boétie - The Politics of Obedience 1552-1553

Economics of Liberty

Among free men there is competition as to who will do most, each for the common good, each by himself, all expecting to share in the misfortunes of defeat, or in the benefits of victory; but an enslaved people loses in addition to this warlike courage, all signs of enthusiasm, for their hearts are degraded, submissive, and incapable of any great deed

Étienne de La Boétie - The Politics of Obedience 1552-1553

Liberty and King's Favor

"By such words, Hydarnes, you give us no good counsel," replied the Lacedaemonians, "because you have experienced merely the advantage of which you speak; you do not know the privilege we enjoy. You have the honor of the king's favor; but you know nothing about liberty, what relish it has and how sweet it is. For if you had any knowledge of it, you yourself would advise us to defend it, not with lance and shield, but with our very teeth and nails."

Étienne de La Boétie - The Politics of Obedience 1552-1553

Liberty is the Natural Condition

Liberty is the natural condition of the people. Servitude, however, is fostered when people are raised in subjection. People are trained to adore rulers. While freedom is forgotten by many there are always some who will never submit.

 Étienne de La Boétie - The Politics of Obedience 1552-1553

Rothbard on Boétie

Why in the world do people consent to their own enslavement?

Murray Rothbard in his Introduction to The Politics of Obedience by Étienne de La Boétie, 1975

Supporting the Colossus

I do not ask that you place hands upon the tyrant to topple him over, but simply that you support him no longer; then you will behold him, like a great Colossus whose pedestal has been pulled away, fall of his own weight and break into pieces?

Étienne de La Boétie - The Politics of Obedience 1552-1553