Legal plunder has two roots: One, as we have just seen, is in human selfishness; the other is in false philanthropy. — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
The law can be an instrument of equalization only as it takes from some persons and gives to other persons. When the… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
It is impossible to introduce into society a greater change and a greater evil than this: the conversion of the law into… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
There are people who think that plunder loses all its immorality as soon as it becomes legal. Personally, I cannot imagine a… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
“But yet he may live and enjoy, by seizing and appropriating the productions of the faculties of his fellow men. This is… — Frédéric Bastiat Copy Share Image
When, then, does plunder stop? It stops when it becomes more painful and more dangerous than labor. — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
When plunder becomes a way of life, men create for themselves a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that… — 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 Image
As long as it is admitted that the law may be diverted from its true purpose--that it may violate property instead of… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
In fact, if law were restricted to protecting all persons, all liberties, and all properties; if law were nothing more than the… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
“Yes, as long as it is admitted that the law may be diverted from its true mission, that it may violate property… — Frédéric Bastiat Copy Share Image
Sometimes the law defends plunder and participates in it. Sometimes the law places the whole apparatus of judges, police, prisons and gendarmes… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
This question of legal plunder must be settled once and for all, and there are only three ways to settle it: (1)… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
It is easy to understand why the law is used by the legislator to destroy in varying degrees among the rest of… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
Now since man is naturally inclined to avoid pain - and since labor is pain in itself - it follows that men… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
Now, legal plunder can be committed in an infinite number of ways. Thus we have an infinite number of plans for organizing… — 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
Men naturally rebel against the injustice of which they are victims. Thus, when plunder is organized by law for the profit of… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
“I do not think that illegal plunder, such as theft or swindling — which the penal code defines, anticipates, and punishes —… — Frédéric Bastiat Copy Share Image
“When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men in a society, over the course of time they create… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
And this is what has taken place. The delusion of the day is to enrich all classes at the expense of each… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
The mission of law is not to oppress persons and plunder them of their property, even thought the law may be acting… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
“It would be impossible, therefore, to introduce into society a greater change and a greater evil than this—the conversion of the law… — Frédéric Bastiat Copy Share Image
“When a portion of wealth is transferred from the person who owns it -- without his consent and without compensation, and whether… — Frédéric Bastiat Copy Share Image
But how is this legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
No legal plunder: This is the principle of justice, peace, order, stability, harmony, and logic. Until the day of my death, I… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
Now since man is naturally inclined to avoid pain - and since labor is pain in itself - it follows that men… — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
Legal plunder can be committed in an infinite number of ways; hence, there are an infinite number of plans for organizing it:… — 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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
The state is the great fictitious entity by which everyone seeks to live at the expense of everyone else. — Frederic Bastiat Copy Share Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
