Quote of the day: On anarchist calisthenics

One day you will be called on to break a big law in the name of justice and rationality. Everything will depend on it. You have to be ready. How are you going to prepare for that day when it really matters? You have to stay “in shape” so that when the big day comes you will be ready. What you need is “anarchist calisthenics.” Every day or so break some trivial law that makes no sense, even if it’s only jaywalking. Use your own head to judge whether a law is just or reasonable. That way, you’ll keep trim; and when the big day comes, you’ll be ready.

— James C. Scott, Two Cheers for Anarchism, quoted in Jason Kuznicki's Cato Journal review.

Previous
Previous

Why the Green New Deal won't work

Next
Next

The empathy that John Donne and Adam Smith had in common