# VI explained — No Treason

> Chapter companion for No Treason by Lysander Spooner.

## What happens

This chapter argues that the essential characteristic of a free government is its reliance on voluntary support, and that any government compelling support against will is tyrannical, regardless of other merits.

## Themes in this chapter

### Consent and Voluntary Government

The chapter defines free government solely by its dependence on voluntary support, contrasting it with coercion.

## Character check-ins

### a man

Represents the individual whose voluntary support defines a free government.

## Key lines

> One essential of a free government is that it rest wholly on voluntary support.

A free government must be entirely based on people's willing participation.

_Establishes the core criterion for freedom in governance._

> And one certain proof that a government is not free, is that it coerces more or less persons to support it, against their will.

If a government forces anyone to support it against their wishes, it is clearly not free.

_Identifies coercion as the definitive sign of unfreedom._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/vi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters