The Most Absurd Apologies for Authority in Law

The most absurd apology for authority in law is that they serve to diminish crime. The deterrent influence of law on the lazy man is too absurd to merit consideration. If society were only relieved of the waste and expense of keeping a lazy class, and the equally great expense of the paraphernalia of protection this lazy class requires, the social tables would contain an abundance for all including even the occasional lazy individual. All the laws and the statutes can only increase, but never do away with crime. Those who will hold the balance between the benefits thus attributed to law and punishment and the degrading effect of the latter on humanity should not be surprised by kropotkin's words.