Freedom of association

The most natural privilege of man, next to the right of acting for himself, is that of combining his exertions with others, and of acting in common with them. The right of association therefore appears to me almost as inalienable in its nature as the right of personal...

Freedom of travel

Governments should not interfere with their citizens’ freedom to travel wherever they want. The internal passport systems of China and other despotic countries are a gross violation of individual rights. Likewise governments that prevent their people from leaving...

Freedom of action

In a free country a person should be able to wake up in the morning and do as he chooses, so long as he is not injuring others. If a man wants to have twelve children, have no children, live as a hermit, throw a party, leave his lights on, build a palatial mansion,...

Freedom of religion

The care therefore of every man’s soul belongs unto himself, and is to be left unto himself. But what if he neglect the care of his soul? I answer, what if he neglect the care of his health, or of his estate, which things are nearer related to the government of the...

Freedom of trade

Restrictions on cross-border trade are a grave infringement of the individual’s liberty to buy from, or sell to, whoever offers him the best price. Frédéric Bastiat explained: “A man who would consider himself a bandit if, pistol in hand, he prevented me from carrying...

Freedom of the market

The property which every man has in his own labor; as it is the original foundation of all other property, so it is the most sacred and inviolable … . To hinder him from employing this strength and dexterity in what manner he thinks proper without injury to his...