Ludwig von Mises on the treatment of minorities in a nation state

Because of the enormous power that today stands at the command of the state, a national minority must expect the worst from a majority of a different nationality.  As long as the state is granted the vast powers which it has today and which public opinion considers to be its right, the thought of having to live in a state whose government is in the hands of members of a foreign nationality is positively terrifying.  It is frightful to live in a state in which at every turn one is exposed to persecution - masquerading under the guise of justice - by a ruling majority.  It is dreadful to be handicapped even as a child in school on account of one's nationality and to be in the wrong before every judicial and administrative authority because one belongs to a national minority.

~ Ludwig von Mises, Liberalism, p. 141

1927

Ludwig von Mises on progress

Men always strive for an improvement in their conditions and always will.  This is man's inescapable destiny.

~ Ludwig von Mises, Liberalism

Ludwig von Mises on the government's attempt to eliminate vices

It is an established fact that alcoholism, cocainism, and morphinism are deadly enemies of life, of health, and of the capacity for work and enjoyment; and a utilitarian must therefore consider them as vices. But this is far from demonstrating that the authorities must interpose to suppress these vices by commercial prohibitions, nor is it by any means evident that such intervention on the part of the government is really capable of suppressing them or that, even if this end could be attained, it might not therewith open up a Pandora's box of other dangers, no less mischievous than alcoholism and morphinism.

~ Ludwig von Mises, Liberalism

Ludwig von Mises on secession

Liberalism forces no one against his will into the structure of the state. Whoever wants to emigrate is not held back. When a part of the people of a state wants to drop out of the union, liberalism does not hinder it from doing so.

~ Ludwig von Mises, Liberalism (1927), pp. 109-110

Ludwig von Mises on alcohol and drug prohibition

It is an established fact that alcoholism, cocainism, and morphinism are deadly enemies of life, of health, and of the capacity for work and enjoyment; and a utilitarian must therefore consider them as vices. But this is far from demonstrating that the authorities must interpose to suppress these vices by commercial prohibitions, nor is it by any means evident that such intervention on the part of the government is really capable of suppressing them or that, even if this end could be attained, it might not therewith open up a Pandora's box of other dangers, no less mischievous than alcoholism and morphinism.

~ Ludwig von Mises, Liberalism (1927)