--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life, faculties, production-in other…" description: "\"Life, faculties, production-in other words, individuality, liberty, property-this is man. And in spite of the cunning of artful political leaders, thes..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/frederic-bastiat-2151_cunning_life-faculties-production-in-other-words_980217.png" --- # Life, faculties, production-in other words, individuality… ![“Life, faculties, production-in other words, individuality, liberty, property-this is man. And in spite of the cunning of artful political leaders, these three gifts from God precede all human legislation, and are superior to it.” quote by Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/frederic-bastiat-2151_cunning_life-faculties-production-in-other-words_980217.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/frederic-bastiat-2151_cunning_life-faculties-production-in-other-words_980217.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69e/frederic-bastiat-2151_cunning_life-faculties-production-in-other-words_980217.png) > “Life, faculties, production-in other words, individuality, liberty, property-this is man. And in spite of the cunning of artful political leaders, these three gifts from God precede all human legislation, and are superior to it.” [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. Human beings possess three natural rights—individuality, liberty, and property—preceding any law and surpassing its authority. **In simple terms:** People have innate rights that outrank laws. Key Takeaway Recognize and protect natural rights. Themes individuality liberty property natural rights political philosophy Mood reflective critical serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - legal drafting - civil rights activism - education on civics - political debate Key Concepts Natural law social contract human dignity Questions to Reflect On - How do societies balance natural rights with public welfare? - When should legislation limit individual liberty? A Different Perspective Rights can conflict with collective decisions or security concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Gift from god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gift-from-god/) [Gifts From God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gifts-from-god/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Individuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individuality/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Legislation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislation/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-leader/) [Political leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-leaders/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Spite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spite/) ## Related quotes > [“Life Is a Gift from God. We hold from God the gift which includes all others. This gift is life -- physical, intellectual, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/life-is-a-gift-from-god-we-hold-from-god-the-gift-which-includes-all/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Some believers are faithful in the way that they live, but at the end of the day, they will not share the gospel with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/some-believers-are-faithful-in-the-way-that-they-live-but-at-the-end/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [“Each day is like a treasure box of gifts from God, just waiting to be opened. Open your gifts with excitement. You will find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-clayton/each-day-is-like-a-treasure-box-of-gifts-from-god-just-waiting-to-be/) Joan Clayton > [One of the greatest gifts from God is the eternal perspective. It is a level of fearlessness, a level of understanding where one can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/one-of-the-greatest-gifts-from-god-is-the-eternal-perspective-it-is-a/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Everybody has own gifts from God. You just need to seize the right time, right place and right person to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroko-sakai/everybody-has-own-gifts-from-god-you-just-need-to-seize-the-right/) [Hiroko Sakai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroko-sakai/) > [“Certain things in life require explanation, others are gifts from God that require you to remain amazed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serio-pensa/certain-things-in-life-require-explanation-others-are-gifts-from-god/) Serio Pensa > [“Good and bad, he was taken for granted; she was much more lenient to him than to any of the children. She welcomed the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-thompson-norris/good-and-bad-he-was-taken-for-granted-she-was-much-more-lenient-to/) Kathleen Thompson Norris > [God blesses you so that you can be a blessing. And when you recieve gifts from God its because God has trusted you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-ingram/god-blesses-you-so-that-you-can-be-a-blessing-and-when-you-recieve/) Marcus Ingram > [Every true friends are wonderful gifts from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rochelle-moresca/every-true-friends-are-wonderful-gifts-from-god/) Rochelle Moresca > [Married or single, you sisters possess distinctive capabilities and special intuition you have received as gifts from God. We brethren cannot duplicate your unique…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/married-or-single-you-sisters-possess-distinctive-capabilities-and/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [The man who receives gifts from God, receives an appointment from God; namely, that of donor; and the wisdom to discharge the functions connected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bowen/the-man-who-receives-gifts-from-god-receives-an-appointment-from-god/) George Bowen > [“Experiences are the gifts from God, but we never seek those directly. You and I are to be seeking. You and I are to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-richardson/experiences-are-the-gifts-from-god-but-we-never-seek-those-directly/) [Brian Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-richardson/) > [All gifts from God are intended to direct our attention to God and create fresh affection for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/all-gifts-from-god-are-intended-to-direct-our-attention-to-god-and/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [Be contented with what you already have. At the same time, strive for greater things. All your possessions are gifts from god. You must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-contented-with-what-you-already-have-at-the-same-time-strive-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Tits are like gifts from God. There’s a reason men don’t have them—if we did, we’d play with them all day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/tits-are-like-gifts-from-god-there-s-a-reason-men-don-t-have-them-if/) [Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/) ## 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 Cunning quotes > [Charm is a cunning self-forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/charm-is-a-cunning-self-forgetfulness/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [It is a pity that, commonly, more care is had--yea, and that among very wise men--to find out rather a cunning man for their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ascham/it-is-a-pity-that-commonly-more-care-is-had-yea-and-that-among-very/) [Roger Ascham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ascham/) > [The terrible immoralities are the cunning ones hiding behind masks of morality, such as exploiting people while pretending to help them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/the-terrible-immoralities-are-the-cunning-ones-hiding-behind-masks-of/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [That humanity and sincerity which dispose men to resist injustice and tyranny render them unfit to cope with the cunning and power of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-humanity-and-sincerity-which-dispose-men-to-resist-injustice-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why do some die and some live? The answer was clearly, that on the whole the best fitted live. From the effects of disease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-russel-wallace/why-do-some-die-and-some-live-the-answer-was-clearly-that-on-the/) [Alfred Russel Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-russel-wallace/) > [Art is the final cunning of the human soul which would rather do anything than face the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/art-is-the-final-cunning-of-the-human-soul-which-would-rather-do/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Treason and murder ever kept together, As two yoke-devils sworn to either's purpose, Working so grossly in a natural cause That admiration did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/treason-and-murder-ever-kept-together-as-two-yoke-devils-sworn-to/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Till swollen with cunning, of a self-conceit, His waxen wings did mount above his reach, And melting heavens conspired his overthrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/till-swollen-with-cunning-of-a-self-conceit-his-waxen-wings-did-mount/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [Stratagem is the right hand of cunning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-curtis/stratagem-is-the-right-hand-of-cunning/) [George William Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-curtis/) > [“When a man possesses the innocence of a child, we call him a fool. 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The Creator didn't see her way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaune-quick-to-see-smith/i-am-defined-by-my-will-to-survive-not-by-intelligence-or-cunning-or/) [Jaune Quick–to–See Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaune-quick-to-see-smith/) > [A cunning mind emphatically delights in its own cunning, and is the ready prey of cunning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-brownell-jameson/a-cunning-mind-emphatically-delights-in-its-own-cunning-and-is-the/) [Anna Brownell Jameson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-brownell-jameson/) Browse all 535 Cunning quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Life, faculties, production-in other words, individuality, liberty, property-this is man. 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