--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In fact, if law were restricted to…" description: "\"In fact, if law were restricted to protecting all persons, all liberties, and all properties; if law were nothing more than the organized combination o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a72/frederic-bastiat-2151_arguing_in-fact-if-law-were-restricted-to-protec_1583206.png" --- # In fact, if law were restricted to protecting all persons… ![“In fact, if law were restricted to protecting all persons, all liberties, and all properties; if law were nothing more than the organized combination of the individual's right to self-defense; if law were the obstacle, the check, the punisher of all oppression and plunder - is it likely that we…” quote by Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a72/frederic-bastiat-2151_arguing_in-fact-if-law-were-restricted-to-protec_1583206.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a72/frederic-bastiat-2151_arguing_in-fact-if-law-were-restricted-to-protec_1583206.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a72/frederic-bastiat-2151_arguing_in-fact-if-law-were-restricted-to-protec_1583206.png) > “In fact, if law were restricted to protecting all persons, all liberties, and all properties; if law were nothing more than the organized combination of the individual's right to self-defense; if law were the obstacle, the check, the punisher of all oppression and plunder - is it likely that we citizens would then argue much about the extent of the franchise?” [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Law should protect individual rights and prevent oppression, not merely serve collective interests. **In simple terms:** Law protects individuals against oppression. Key Takeaway Defend personal liberty. Themes law property freedom Mood critical thoughtful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - civil rights debates - property disputes - community governance - activism Key Concepts individual rights self‑defense state limits Questions to Reflect On - How do we ensure law protects both individuals and the common good? - When should the state intervene in personal defense? A Different Perspective Balancing collective safety with individual rights is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arguing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) [Checks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/checks/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Combination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/combination/) [Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense/) [Defense Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense-law-1180984/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individual Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-right-875528/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law Obstacle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-obstacle-5984633/) [Law Restricted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-restricted-5984632/) [Libertarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarian/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression/) [Organized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organized/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Persons Liberties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons-liberties-1748037/) [Plunder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plunder/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Punisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punisher/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-defense/) ## Related quotes > [“The law is the organization of the natural right of lawful defence; it is the substitution of collective for individual forces, for the purpose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-is-the-organization-of-the-natural-right-of-lawful-defence-it/) [Frédéric Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“The right of self defense is the first law of nature; in most governments it has been the study of rulers to confine this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-right-of-self-defense-is-the-first-law-of-nature-in-most/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our defense is not in our armaments, nor in science, nor in going underground. Our defense is in law and order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/our-defense-is-not-in-our-armaments-nor-in-science-nor-in-going/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Self-defense is a part of the law of nature; nor can it be denied the community, even against the king himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/self-defense-is-a-part-of-the-law-of-nature-nor-can-it-be-denied-the/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ What, then is law \[government\]? It is the collective organization of the individual right to lawful defense. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/what-then-is-law-government-it-is-the-collective-organization-of-the/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Obama, who is becoming more and more preacher-like, wants to be the Punisher-in-Chi ef of the Western World, the Avenger-in-Chie f. There is something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fisk/obama-who-is-becoming-more-and-more-preacher-like-wants-to-be-the/) [Robert Fisk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fisk/) > [ At the end of the day, it's a show \[Daredevil \] not about a superhero, but it's about a man. Hopefully, that's what we're… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bernthal/at-the-end-of-the-day-it-s-a-show-daredevil-not-about-a-superhero-but/) [Jon Bernthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bernthal/) > [I am a child of the poisonous wind that copulated with the East River on an oil-slick, garbage infested midnight. I turn about on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-am-a-child-of-the-poisonous-wind-that-copulated-with-the-east-river/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [There's part of it when Manute has both eyes. And the character was actually fleshed out a lot more, in this movie. I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/there-s-part-of-it-when-manute-has-both-eyes-and-the-character-was/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [In their role as celestial servants to humans on earth, Angels act variously as guardians, guides, teachers, truth-givers and comforters, protectors of the righteous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-connolly/in-their-role-as-celestial-servants-to-humans-on-earth-angels-act/) [David Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-connolly/) > [I've always loved comic books, which is why I've done films like Hulk and The Punishers,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gale-anne-hurd/i-ve-always-loved-comic-books-which-is-why-i-ve-done-films-like-hulk/) [Gale Anne Hurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gale-anne-hurd/) > [In prison we are their jailers On trial their judges Persecuted their punishers Dead their conquerors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-macneill/in-prison-we-are-their-jailers-on-trial-their-judges-persecuted-their/) [Eoin MacNeill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-macneill/) > [Everyone outside the Roman Empire was called a barbarian. Everyone outside Obama’s empire is called a terrorist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fisk/everyone-outside-the-roman-empire-was-called-a-barbarian-everyone/) [Robert Fisk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fisk/) > [Are you angry? Be angry at your sins, beat your soul, afflict your conscience, but strict in judgement and a terrible punisher of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/are-you-angry-be-angry-at-your-sins-beat-your-soul-afflict-your/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [I love peace, and am anxious that we should give the world still another useful lesson, by showing to them other modes of punishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-love-peace-and-am-anxious-that-we-should-give-the-world-still/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More by Frederic Bastiat > [The politician attempts to remedy the evil by increasing the very thing that caused the evil in the first place: legal plunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-politician-attempts-to-remedy-the-evil-by-increasing-the-very/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-is-the-collective-organization-of-the-individual-s-right-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [If every person has the right to defend - even by force - his person, his liberty, and his property, then it follows that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/if-every-person-has-the-right-to-defend-even-by-force-his-person-his/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Sometimes the law defends plunder and participates in it. Sometimes the law places the whole apparatus of judges, police, prisons and gendarmes at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/sometimes-the-law-defends-plunder-and-participates-in-it-sometimes/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Slavery, protection, and monopoly find defenders, not only in those who profit by them, but in those who suffer by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/slavery-protection-and-monopoly-find-defenders-not-only-in-those-who/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Often the masses are plundered and do not know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/often-the-masses-are-plundered-and-do-not-know-it/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Here I encounter the most popular fallacy of our times. It is not considered sufficient that the law should guarantee to every citizen the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/here-i-encounter-the-most-popular-fallacy-of-our-times-it-is-not/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [The state is the great fictitious entity by which everyone seeks to live at the expense of everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-state-is-the-great-fictitious-entity-by-which-everyone-seeks-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [There is in all of a strong disposition to believe that anything lawful is also legitimate. This belief is so widespread that many persons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/there-is-in-all-of-a-strong-disposition-to-believe-that-anything/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [I believe that my theory is correct; for whatever be the question upon which I am arguing, whether it be religious, philosophical, political, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/i-believe-that-my-theory-is-correct-for-whatever-be-the-question-upon/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [The balance of trade is an article of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-balance-of-trade-is-an-article-of-faith/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [There are people who think that plunder loses all its immorality as soon as it becomes legal. Personally, I cannot imagine a more alarming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/there-are-people-who-think-that-plunder-loses-all-its-immorality-as/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“And now, after having vainly inflicted upon the social body so many systems, let them end where they ought to have begun—reject all systems,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/and-now-after-having-vainly-inflicted-upon-the-social-body-so-many/) [Frédéric Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [When misguided public opinion honors what is despicable and despises what is honorable, punishes virtue and rewards vice, encourages what is harmful and discourages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/when-misguided-public-opinion-honors-what-is-despicable-and-despises/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [There is only one difference between a bad economist and a good one: the bad economist confines himself to the visible effect; the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/there-is-only-one-difference-between-a-bad-economist-and-a-good-one/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) [Explore all 182 Frederic Bastiat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) ## More Arguing quotes > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Men are fair, and they have learned not to personalize anger - they can disagree with you and argue to the bone, but afterward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-are-fair-and-they-have-learned-not-to-personalize-anger-they-can/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Fasting is required, staying away from fighting and arguing and bombing of masjids is still going on. Hatred is still manifested between Sunni and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/fasting-is-required-staying-away-from-fighting-and-arguing-and/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [The problem for the Left, however, is that the moment it stops painting the Right as vile, it has to argue the issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-problem-for-the-left-however-is-that-the-moment-it-stops-painting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [You can argue that the Terminator movies reboot their world each time they go back in time, but that doesn't negate the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/you-can-argue-that-the-terminator-movies-reboot-their-world-each-time/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I'm a very serious person, but I don't take myself very seriously and I would rather laugh all day than argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/i-m-a-very-serious-person-but-i-don-t-take-myself-very-seriously-and/) [Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [There's crucial distinction that has to be drawn between the Shari'a, which is this hugely expansive vision of cosmic order that I've been describing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadakat-kadri/there-s-crucial-distinction-that-has-to-be-drawn-between-the-shari-a/) [Sadakat Kadri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadakat-kadri/) > [Only fools argue whether to eat meat or not. They don't understand truth nor do they meditate on it. Who can define what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/only-fools-argue-whether-to-eat-meat-or-not-they-don-t-understand/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) [Browse all 1,908 Arguing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In fact, if law were restricted to protecting all persons, all liberties, and all properties; if law were nothing more than the organized combination of the individual's right to self-defense; if law were the obstacle, the check, the punisher of all oppression and plunder - is it likely that we citizens would then argue much about the extent of the franchise?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frederic Bastiat" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/in-fact-if-law-were-restricted-to-protecting-all-persons-all/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arguing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/in-fact-if-law-were-restricted-to-protecting-all-persons-all/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a72/frederic-bastiat-2151_arguing_in-fact-if-law-were-restricted-to-protec_1583206.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a72/frederic-bastiat-2151_arguing_in-fact-if-law-were-restricted-to-protec_1583206.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a72/frederic-bastiat-2151_arguing_in-fact-if-law-were-restricted-to-protec_1583206.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In fact, if law were restricted to protecting all persons, all liberties, and all properties; if law were…” — Frederic Bastiat", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Frederic Bastiat", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In fact, if law were restricted...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/in-fact-if-law-were-restricted-to-protecting-all-persons-all/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/in-fact-if-law-were-restricted-to-protecting-all-persons-all/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```