--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No legal plunder: This is the principle…" description: "\"No legal plunder: This is the principle of justice.\" — Frederic Bastiat" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfc/frederic-bastiat-2151_justice_no-legal-plunder-this-is-the-principle-o_3120175.png" --- # No legal plunder: This is the principle of justice. ![“No legal plunder: This is the principle of justice.” quote by Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfc/frederic-bastiat-2151_justice_no-legal-plunder-this-is-the-principle-o_3120175.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfc/frederic-bastiat-2151_justice_no-legal-plunder-this-is-the-principle-o_3120175.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfc/frederic-bastiat-2151_justice_no-legal-plunder-this-is-the-principle-o_3120175.png) > “No legal plunder: This is the principle of justice.” [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. Justice requires that no one takes what belongs to another; fairness is the core principle. **In simple terms:** Justice means no theft. Key Takeaway Uphold fairness and protect property rights. Themes justice property ethics fairness law Mood serious reflective Type philosophical political When to use this quote - business - government policy - personal transactions - legal disputes Key Concepts property rights economic justice moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What defines rightful ownership? - Can justice be balanced with social welfare? A Different Perspective Complexities of redistribution may challenge simple notions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) ## Related quotes > [No legal plunder: This is the principle of justice, peace, order, stability, harmony, and logic. Until the day of my death, I shall proclaim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/no-legal-plunder-this-is-the-principle-of-justice-peace-order/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“Sometimes the law defends plunder and participates in it. Thus the beneficiaries are spared the shame and danger that their acts would otherwise involve……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/sometimes-the-law-defends-plunder-and-participates-in-it-thus-the/) [Frédéric Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 commit legal plunder by violating liberty and property.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-commit-legal-plunder-by-violating-liberty-and-property/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [But how is this legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/but-how-is-this-legal-plunder-to-be-identified-quite-simply-see-if/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [This question of legal plunder must be settled once and for all, and there are only three ways to settle it: (1) The few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/this-question-of-legal-plunder-must-be-settled-once-and-for-all-and/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Now, legal plunder can be committed in an infinite number of ways. Thus we have an infinite number of plans for organizing it: tariffs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/now-legal-plunder-can-be-committed-in-an-infinite-number-of-ways-thus/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Legal plunder has two roots: One, as we have just seen, is in human selfishness; the other is in false philanthropy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/legal-plunder-has-two-roots-one-as-we-have-just-seen-is-in-human/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Legal plunder can be committed in an infinite number of ways; hence, there are an infinite number of plans for organizing it: tariffs, protection,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/legal-plunder-can-be-committed-in-an-infinite-number-of-ways-hence/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [If government goes beyond securing liberty and instead violates it through regulation, redistribution, and planning, then citizens are victims of legal plunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ebeling/if-government-goes-beyond-securing-liberty-and-instead-violates-it/) [Richard Ebeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ebeling/) > [ Our search for such \[moral\] principles can start with . . . the unconditional imperative to acknowledge every person as a person. If we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/our-search-for-such-moral-principles-can-start-with-the-unconditional/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [Everywhere there is one principle of justice, which is the interest of the stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/everywhere-there-is-one-principle-of-justice-which-is-the-interest-of/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [The mission of the law is not to oppress persons and plunder them of their property, even though the law may be acting in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-mission-of-the-law-is-not-to-oppress-persons-and-plunder-them-of/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [I want it understood that all these men fought for principle, not for plunder, and that they were true-hearted, honorable soldiers, fighting for what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-younger/i-want-it-understood-that-all-these-men-fought-for-principle-not-for/) [Cole Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-younger/) > [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/) ## 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 Justice quotes > [Never fight on the wrong side; you might win but the burden of guilt is more than a loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-salan/never-fight-on-the-wrong-side-you-might-win-but-the-burden-of-guilt/) [Lilian Salan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-salan/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“The jailers, the Court, everyone in that building – it wasn’t about justice; it was about obedience and intimidation…about maintaining order. Fear accomplished that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/the-jailers-the-court-everyone-in-that-building-it-wasn-t-about/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [Civilized nations are ones that simply can't endure wrongs or injustice except at home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-anderson/civilized-nations-are-ones-that-simply-can-t-endure-wrongs-or/) Joseph Anderson > [Time often serves to justify a deed which seems at first unjustifiable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-p-ryan/time-often-serves-to-justify-a-deed-which-seems-at-first-unjustifiable/) Donald P. Ryan > [This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day \[as a Fairfax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young-folks-to-providing-bedfellows/) [George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [At minimum, we must recognize that there are legitimate, unanswered questions about whether the Obama Justice Department involved themselves in a political project targeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-meadows/at-minimum-we-must-recognize-that-there-are-legitimate-unanswered/) [Mark Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-meadows/) > [We need to incorporate that age-old concept of redemption into the work that we do in the criminal justice system in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/we-need-to-incorporate-that-age-old-concept-of-redemption-into-the/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [There is no freedom without justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-wiesenthal/there-is-no-freedom-without-justice/) [Simon Wiesenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-wiesenthal/) > [“The absence of judgment becomes a catalyst and an enabler for greater injustice. 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