Philosophical Quotes by Frederic Bastiat

The politician attempts to remedy the evil by increasing the very thing that caused the evil in the first place: legal plunder.

— Frederic Bastiat

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

If every person has the right to defend - even by force - his person, his liberty, and his property, then it follows that…

— Frederic Bastiat

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

Slavery, protection, and monopoly find defenders, not only in those who profit by them, but in those who suffer by them.

— Frederic Bastiat

Often the masses are plundered and do not know it.

— Frederic Bastiat

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

The state is the great fictitious entity by which everyone seeks to live at the expense of everyone else.

— Frederic Bastiat

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

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

The balance of trade is an article of faith.

— Frederic Bastiat

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