"If A were to go to B, a merchant, and say to him, 'Sir, I am a
night-watchman, and I insist upon your employing me as such in
protecting your property against burglars; and to enable me to do so
more effectually, I insist upon your letting me tie your own hands and
feet, so that you cannot interfere with me; and also upon your
delivering up to me all your keys to your store, your safe, and to all
your valuables; and that you authorize me to act solely and fully
according to my own will, pleasure, and discretion in the matter; and I
demand still further, that you shall give me an absolute guaranty that
you will not hold me to any accountability whatever for anything I may
do, or for anything that may happen to your goods while they are under
my protection; and unless you comply with this proposal, I will now kill
you on the spot,'—if A were to say all this to B, B would naturally
conclude that A himself was the most impudent and dangerous burglar that
he (B) had to fear; and that if he (B) wished to secure his property
against burglars, his best way would be to kill A in the first place,
and then take his chances against all such other burglars as might come
afterwards."
~Lysander Spooner
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