Cases Quote by Frederic Bastiat
“I find it hard to understand why those who demand Unitary Education by the State do not also demand a Unitary Press by the State... Either the State is infallible, in which case we could not do better than to submit to it the entire domain of intelligent thought, or it is not, in which case it is no more rational to hand over education to it than the press.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "What is Property?" (1850) by Frederic Bastiat
The quote argues that if the state is trusted with education, it should also be trusted with the press, exposing inconsistency in demanding state control over one but not the other.
In simple terms: Demanding state control over education but not the press is contradictory.
Key Takeaway
Question state authority over both or neither.
Themes
freedom
education
press
government
logic
Mood
critical
skeptical
thoughtful
Type
political
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- public policy debates
- media regulation
- school curriculum design
- activism
- political commentary
Key Concepts
libertarianism
property rights
state authority
Questions to Reflect On
- Is any institution truly infallible?
- How can we balance oversight with independence?
A Different Perspective
The state may have legitimate roles in certain areas, making a blanket rejection too simplistic.
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