"No human being has the right, under ANY circumstances, to initiate force against another human being, nor to advocate or delegate its initiation."

The Zero Aggression Principle (ZAP), or the Non-Aggression Principle, is the defining rule of peaceful coexistance.  This version was composed by L. Neil Smith, who says: "A libertarian is a person who believes that no one has the right, under any circumstances, to initiate force against another human being, or to advocate or delegate its initiation. Those who act consistently with this principle are libertarians, whether they realize it or not. Those who fail to act consistently with it are not libertarians, regardless of what they may claim." 

This is the basis of a freedom philosophy which respects the rights of everyone.  Some go so far as to say that anyone who lives by this rule is a libertarian; anyone who does not, is not a libertarian.  The basic idea has been expressed throughout human cultures across the globe and in every era.  The "Golden Rule"* and "The Wiccan Rede"** are just two examples among many.  Even very young children have an innate understanding of this one "law of humanity".  In any dispute they always cry "He started it!"  I think that this idea is part of what makes us philosophically human.

Notice, too, that advocating the initiation of force against others is understood to be wrong.  You can not threaten to use force to coerce someone's compliance.  Prohibited as well is using thugs (such as government agents) to impose your coercive desires upon the unwilling, yet otherwise peaceful, person.

Government at every level violates the ZAP in every action it takes.

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*"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"

**"An it harm none, do as thou wilt" ("an" is an archaic form of "if")