"Land, n. A part of the earth's surface, considered as property. The theory that land is property subject to private ownership and control is the foundation of modern society, and is eminently worthy of the superstructure. Carried to its logical conclusion, it means that some have the right to prevent others from living; for the right to own implies the right exclusively to occupy; and in fact laws of trespass are enacted wherever property in land is recognized. It follows that if the whole area of terra firma is owned by A, B and C, there will be no place for D, E, F and G to be born, or, born as trespassers, to exist."
React to this quote
More by Ambrose Bierce
See allResonant Thoughts
"There has been an increased but still rather limited response to general systems theory, as variously reflected in the work of Bateson, Vayda, Rappaport, Adams, and an interest in the use of computers…"
"Enlightenment is enlightenment. And that's that. It's an unalterable, unwavering state of knowledge and being beyond doubt, a completion every moment by grace of the Most High, the unspeakable one, Go…"
Explore Further
Related Quotes
"We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, yo…"
— Steve Maraboli"Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses."
— Confucius"We can be the generation that no longer accepts that an accident of latitude determines whether a child liv…"
— Bono"The statistical and the academic is a necessary basis and a preliminary step for most scientific study, but…"
— Alice Bailey"I contemplate the sort of friend, the sort of man I am now without. He completed his sixty-seventh year, a …"
— Pliny the Younger"experiences of this period had two very marked effects on my opinions and character. In the first place, th…"
— John Stuart Mill