Our security against fire and gunpowder is in our knowledge of their natures and their inevitable modes of action, which knowledge raises us above their dangers, and renders them useful and comparatively harmless. Our remedies and securities against social evils are in the knowledge of our own natures, our inevitable modes of action, our true positions with regards to each other, and to our institutions. Even man-made laws, rules, precepts, dogmas, counsel, advice, may all be rendered comparatively and useful by not allowing them to rise above the higher law, the highest utility, the SOVEREIGNTY of the INDIVIDUAL. We are liable to be deceived and disappointed in ourselves, as well as in others, until we are aware of this liability, which raises us above the danger; and we are subject, not only to constant changes, but to action and temporary reactions, over which (at the time) we have no control whatever.
(posted to promote awareness of the works of Josiah Warren)