If philanthropy is not voluntary, it destroys liberty and justice. The law can give nothing that has not first been taken from… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
If everyone enjoyed the unrestricted use of his faculties and the free disposition of the fruits of his labor, social progress would… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
Try to imagine a system of labor imposed by force that is not a violation of liberty; a transfer of wealth imposed… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
If you wish to prosper, let your customer prosper. When people have learned this lesson, everyone will seek his individual welfare in… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
We cannot but be astonished at the ease with which men resign themselves to ignorance about what is most important for them… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
If socialists mean that under extraordinary circumstances, for urgent cases, the State should set aside some resources to assist certain unfortunate people,… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
Socialism, like the ancient ideas from which it springs, confuses the distinction between government and society. As a result of this, every… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
If every person has the right to defend - even by force - his person, his liberty, and his property, then it… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
As proof of this statement, consider this question: Have the people ever been known to rise against the Court of Appeals, or… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
The mission of the law is not to oppress persons and plunder them of their property, even though the law may be… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
Thus, if there exists a law which sanctions slavery or monopoly, oppression or robbery, in any form whatever, it must not even… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
The law has been perverted, and the powers of the state have become perverted along with it. The law has not only… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
No society can exist if respect for the law does not to some extent prevail; but the surest way to have the… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
The people who, during the election, were so wise, so moral, so perfect, now have no tendencies whatever; or if they have… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
We disapprove of state education. Then the socialists say that we are opposed to any education. We object to a state religion.… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
The politician attempts to remedy the evil by increasing the very thing that caused the evil in the first place: legal plunder. — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share
The law is the collective organization of the individual's right to lawful defense of his life, liberty and property. When it is used for… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share
If every person has the right to defend - even by force - his person, his liberty, and his property, then it follows that… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share
Sometimes the law defends plunder and participates in it. Sometimes the law places the whole apparatus of judges, police, prisons and gendarmes at the… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share
Slavery, protection, and monopoly find defenders, not only in those who profit by them, but in those who suffer by them. — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share
Here I encounter the most popular fallacy of our times. It is not considered sufficient that the law should guarantee to every citizen the… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share
The state is the great fictitious entity by which everyone seeks to live at the expense of everyone else. — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share
There is in all of a strong disposition to believe that anything lawful is also legitimate. This belief is so widespread that many persons… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share
I believe that my theory is correct; for whatever be the question upon which I am arguing, whether it be religious, philosophical, political, or… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share
There are people who think that plunder loses all its immorality as soon as it becomes legal. Personally, I cannot imagine a more alarming… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share
“And now, after having vainly inflicted upon the social body so many systems, let them end where they ought to have begun—reject all systems,… — Frédéric Bastiat Copy Share
When misguided public opinion honors what is despicable and despises what is honorable, punishes virtue and rewards vice, encourages what is harmful and discourages… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share
There is only one difference between a bad economist and a good one: the bad economist confines himself to the visible effect; the good… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share
