What is the major lesson to be learned from Eric Frank Russell's 'And then there were none'?

Answer 1

Answer 1:

Authority is a construct; if everyone but the would-be authorities ignores it, they have no authority. Please note that this story only works because all the authorities in it are nice people who would never actually use a weapon to force compliance. There is a somewhat similar story in which Gandhi has to deal with a Nazi overseer instead of the more civilized British. I can't remember the title or author. Let's just say the story had a very different ending.

Answer 2:

The story was "The Last Article" by Harry Turtledove. It was making the point that while passive resistance does well with semi-benevolent regimes like the United Kingdom or the United States (wherein their governments at least wish to lookgood), it does not do well with a regime such as the National Socialist government of Germany.