Absolute power Quote by Frederic Bastiat
“It is not true that the legislator has absolute power over our persons and property. The existence of persons and property preceded the existence of the legislator, and his function is only to guarantee their safety.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: Economic Sophisms, 1850
The law's role is to protect life, liberty, and property, not to dominate them; authority derives from the people it safeguards.
In simple terms: Law protects, not controls.
Key Takeaway
Respect limits of governmental power.
Themes
law
property
government
rights
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political debate
- legal reform
- civil rights activism
Key Concepts
social contract
natural rights
limited government
Questions to Reflect On
- How should societies balance security and liberty?
- When does regulation become oppression?
A Different Perspective
Government overreach can threaten freedoms.
![“As Israel made the wants of his national existence the law of the world, as under the dominance of these wants he deified even his political vindictiveness; so the Christian made the requirements of human feeling the absolute powers and laws of the world. [T]hat is, indeed, only of man considered…” quote by Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dd1/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_abrahamism_as-israel-made-the-wants-of-his-national_31284.jpg)
