liberty

is a belief that the only liberty is a liberty connected with order and cannot exist without order.

For Edmund Burke, liberty was the distinguishing feature of the British constitution. He did not, however, mean liberty in some vacuous, hopeychangey sense. 'The only liberty I mean,' he wrote, 'is a liberty connected with order... and that not only exist with order and virtue, but cannot exist at all without them.'

is a dangerous illusion since it leads inexorably to human misery. Government is the only thing that can protect men and women from the fatal consequences of natural liberty.

For Hobbes, liberty was a dangerous illusion since it led inexorably to human misery. For Hobbes government is instituted not to preserve individual liberty, but to severely limit it. And unlike many subsequently more politically timid social scientist, Hobbes was quite explicit in expressing his beliefs. Hobbes's vision of society entailed some small degree of individual liberty, but he did not believe that liberty is a good in itself nor, in general, a means to other good. According to Hobbes, government is the only thing that can protect men and women from the fatal consequencs of natural liberty. And so Hobbes offers a rational defense of almost unlimited absolute government and a repudiation of limited liberal government. He is an absolutest, and, at least as the term is currently defined, he is a realist, but he is certainly not a liberal'

I would define liberty to be a power to do as we would be done by. JOHN ADAMS To J. H. Tif fany, March 31, 1819

is a right that must be supported, be it a right received from our maker, or also earned by or fathers.

[L]iberty must at all hazards be supported. We have a right to it, derived from our Maker. But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought it for us, at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure, and their blood. JOHN ADAMS (1735-1826) A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law 1765

is dependent upon facilitating a general intercourse of sentiments (i.e. Good roads, domestic commerce, a free press, and particularly a circulation of newspapers through the entire body of the people).

Whatever facilitates a general intercourse of sentiments, as good roads, domestic commerce, a free press, and particularly a circulation of newspapers through the entire body of the people, and Representatives going from, and returning among every part of them, is equivalent to a contraction of territorial limits, and is favorable to liberty, where these may be too extensive. JAMES MADISON 'On Public Opinion' December 19, 1791

is endangered by the abuses of liberty as well as the abuses of power.

Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty as well as the abuses of power. JAMES MADISON The Federalist Papers 1788

is, for a nation, such that each has a right to carve out its own happiness in its own way, and it is the height of presumption in another to attempt to fashion its political creed.

The pretext of propagating liberty can make no difference. Every nation has a right to carve out its own happiness in its own way, and it is the height of presumption in another to attempt to fashion its political creed. ALEXANDER HAMILTON To George Washington, May 2, 1793

is found not in the seeking of freedom (which leads one to be a captive of one's desires) but in the seeking of discipline.

Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty. Frank Herbert

liberty, n.Definitions

liberty