# Dismantling the State with Étienne De La Boétie

**URL:** <https://www.libertarianism.org/podcasts/portraits-of-liberty/dismantling-the-state-with-tienne-de-la-bo-tie>

**By** Paul Meany

**Published:** June 18, 2020

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Étienne believed there was no true difference between a king and a tyrant.

## Summary:

While in college at the young age of eighteen, Étienne De La Boétie wrote a Discourse on Voluntary Servitude a book which attempted to explain why people obey tyrants despite their better judgement. Étienne explains how tyranny endures through the powers of habit, trickery, and patronage. But by far, Étienne's most unique view is that the state must be dismantled by simple acts of mass civil disobedience reminding rulers we can always choose not to obey.

## Related Content:

“[The Radical Humanism of Étienne de La Boétie.](https://www.libertarianism.org/essays/voluntary-servitude)” Journal of the History of Ideas (USA), 38 (1977): 119–130.

[La Boétie, Étienne de (1530-1563)](https://www.libertarianism.org/encyclopedia/la-boetie-etienne-de-1530-1563), Encyclopedia of Libertarianism

[Montaigne, Michel de (1533-1592)](https://www.libertarianism.org/encyclopedia/montaigne-michel-de), Encyclopedia of Libertarianism