The chief duty of governments, in so far as they are coercive, is to restrain those who would interfere with the inalienable rights of the individual, among which are the right to life, the right to liberty, the right to the pursuit of happiness and the right to worship God according to the dictates of ones conscience.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the primary responsibility of governments to use their coercive power to protect the fundamental rights of individuals. These rights include the right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, and freedom of religious belief. The quote highlights the importance of restraining those who seek to hinder or infringe upon these inalienable rights. It implicitly suggests that the role of governments should primarily be focused on safeguarding the well-being and freedoms of its citizens.