Liberty and Tyranny

“We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With some the word may mean for each man to do as he pleases with himself, and the product of his labor; while with others, the same word may mean for some men to do as they please with other men and the product of other men’s labor. Here are two, not only different, but incompatible things, called by the same name—liberty. And it follows that each of the things is, by the respective parties, called by two different an incompatible names—liberty and tyranny.” Abraham Lincoln 1864.

So…we see that two persons, both looking at the same phenomenon, may see it entirely differently—depending upon the perspective each brings to the situation. As for me, however, I accept the first definition given by President Lincoln. I believe that liberty is the freedom to do whatever one wishes with one’s self and one’s produce—so long as it does not impinge upon the freedom of others, of course.