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Shawords

Quote#Nature

For property is robbery, but then, we are all robbers or would-be…

Quote bySamuel Butler · 1835–1902

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Erewhon (1872), Ch. 12.

English (original)

For property is robbery, but then, we are all robbers or would-be robbers together, and have found it essential to organise our thieving, as we have found it necessary to organise our lust and our revenge. Property, marriage, the law; as the bed to the river, so rule and convention to the instinct; and woe to him who tampers with the banks while the flood is flowing.

— Samuel Butler

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