A traitor is a betrayer - one who practices injury, while professing friendship. Benedict Arnold was a traitor, solely because, while professing friendship for the American cause, he attempted to injure it. An open enemy, however criminal in other respects, is no traitor.

In this quote, Lysander Spooner offers a definition of traitor as someone who pretends to be a friend or ally while secretly acting against the interests of those they claim to support. He specifically refers to Benedict Arnold, an infamous figure in American history who, while professing friendship and loyalty to the American cause, ultimately betrayed it by attempting to undermine and harm the efforts of the revolutionaries. Spooner makes a clear distinction between a traitor, who covertly works against a cause under the guise of allegiance, and an open enemy, who might be criminal but does not deceive by feigning friendship.

Spooner’s argument is that the act of betrayal is the essence of treason, as it involves a deliberate act of injury to something or someone while publicly professing loyalty. The concept of friendship is central to this definition: it suggests that betrayal is not merely an act of opposing or harming, but an act of undermining trust and loyalty, which is what makes it particularly reprehensible. An open enemy, on the other hand, is seen as less dishonorable because their hostility is clear and not disguised as friendship or loyalty.

The origin of this quote stems from Spooner’s broader philosophical views on justice, law, and government. Spooner, a prominent abolitionist and legal theorist, often critiqued the government’s use of law to control individuals and justified acts of rebellion or resistance against unjust systems. His ideas about traitors and enemies reflect his belief in the importance of genuine allegiance to moral causes, and he viewed Benedict Arnold’s actions as a betrayal of such principles, which should be condemned above all.

Ultimately, Spooner’s quote reflects a nuanced view of betrayal and loyalty. He suggests that the most severe form of treachery is not the open declaration of enmity but the act of pretending to be a friend while secretly working against the cause or people one claims to support. This makes betrayal far more dangerous and damaging than simply being an open enemy, who is, at least, clear in their opposition.