--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is so true, that the Socialists look…" description: "\"“It is so true, that the Socialists look upon mankind as a subject for social experiments, that if, by chance, they are not quite certain of the succes..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/bastiat-frederick-50312_legislator_it-is-so-true-that-the-socialists-look-u_2163771.jpg" --- # It is so true, that the Socialists look upon mankind as a… ![“It is so true, that the Socialists look upon mankind as a subject for social experiments, that if, by chance, they are not quite certain of the success of these experiments, they will request a portion of mankind, as a subject to experiment upon. It is well known how popular the ideaof trying all…” quote by Bastiat, Frederick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/bastiat-frederick-50312_legislator_it-is-so-true-that-the-socialists-look-u_2163771.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/bastiat-frederick-50312_legislator_it-is-so-true-that-the-socialists-look-u_2163771.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/bastiat-frederick-50312_legislator_it-is-so-true-that-the-socialists-look-u_2163771.jpg) > ““It is so true, that the Socialists look upon mankind as a subject for social experiments, that if, by chance, they are not quite certain of the success of these experiments, they will request a portion of mankind, as a subject to experiment upon. It is well known how popular the ideaof trying all systems is, and one of their chiefs has been known seriously to demand of the Constituent Assembly a parish, with all its inhabitants, upon which to make his experiments. It is thus that an inventor will make a small machine before he makes one of the regular size. Thus the chemist sacrifices some substances, the agriculturist some seed and corner of his field, to make trial of an idea. But think of the difference between the gardener and his trees, between the inventor and his machine, between the chemist and his substances, between the agriculturist and his seed! The Socialist thinks, in all sincerity, that there is the same difference between himself and mankind. No wonder the politicians of the nineteenth century look upon society as an artifical production of the legislator's genius. This idea, the result of a classical education, has taken possession of all the thinkers and great writers of our country. To all these persons, the relations between mankind and the legislator appear to be the same as those that exist between the clay and the potter.”” [Bastiat, Frederick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bastiat-frederick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Bastiat critiques the view that society can be engineered like a laboratory experiment, arguing that humans cannot be treated as mere subjects for political or economic trials. **In simple terms:** Treating people as experimental subjects is misguided. Key Takeaway Respect human dignity and avoid social engineering. Themes politics ethics human rights social theory Mood critical skeptical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - policy making - urban planning - education reform - public health initiatives Key Concepts utilitarianism individual autonomy state power Questions to Reflect On - What ethical boundaries should limit social experiments? - How can we balance innovation with respect for individual rights? A Different Perspective Human beings are not interchangeable parts; experiments can cause harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Classical education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classical-education/) [Experiments Inventor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments-inventor-4603462/) [Legislator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislator/) [Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians/) [Seed Socialist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seed-socialist-4603461/) [Social Experiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-experiments-1659144/) [Socialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socialism/) [Socialist Thinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socialist-thinks-4463247/) [Socialists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/socialists/) [Well known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well-known/) ## Related quotes > [I profoundly dislike Bernie Sanders, and you can write it. I don't give a hoot. 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It is well known how popular the ideaof trying all systems is, and one of their chiefs has been known seriously to demand of the Constituent Assembly a parish, with all its inhabitants, upon which to make his experiments. It is thus that an inventor will make a small machine before he makes one of the regular size. Thus the chemist sacrifices some substances, the agriculturist some seed and corner of his field, to make trial of an idea. But think of the difference between the gardener and his trees, between the inventor and his machine, between the chemist and his substances, between the agriculturist and his seed! The Socialist thinks, in all sincerity, that there is the same difference between himself and mankind. No wonder the politicians of the nineteenth century look upon society as an artifical production of the legislator's genius. This idea, the result of a classical education, has taken possession of all the thinkers and great writers of our country. 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