From Murray Rothbard (1926-1995), American economist of the Austrian School, historian of both economic thought and American history, political philosopher whose writings and personal influence played a seminal role in the development of modern libertarianism, Introduction to Étienne de La Boétie’s Politics of Obedience: The Discourse of Voluntary Servitude (1975):
The fundamental political question is why do people obey a government. The answer is that they tend to enslave themselves, to let themselves be governed by tyrants. Freedom from servitude comes not from violent action, but from the refusal to serve. Tyrants fall when the people withdraw their support.
