Evil Quote by Frederic Bastiat
“Trade protection accumulates upon a single point the good which it effects, while the evil inflicted is infused throughout the mass. The one strikes the eye at a first glance, while the other becomes perceptible only to close investigation.”
About This Quote
Trade protection benefits a specific group visibly, while its broader harms are hidden and only revealed upon close examination.
In simple terms: Protection helps few, harms many unseen.
Key Takeaway
Consider hidden costs of policies.
Themes
economics
policy
externalities
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
economic
political
When to use this quote
- government regulation
- consumer markets
- environmental impact
Key Concepts
public choice
market distortion
Questions to Reflect On
- Who truly benefits from protection?
- How can hidden harms be uncovered?
A Different Perspective
Short‑term gains may mask long‑term damage.
![“Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to [be] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is in play. Society has no obligation to try to rehabilitate evil.” quote by Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b89/bill-o-reilly-1019_destroyed_evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be_3597.jpg)
