--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The law has been perverted through the…" description: "\"“The law has been perverted through the influence of two very different causes—bare egotism and false philanthropy.”\" — Frédéric Bastiat" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/frederic-bastiat-2151_law_the-law-has-been-perverted-through-the-i_3169824.png" --- # The law has been perverted through the influence of two… ![“The law has been perverted through the influence of two very different causes—bare egotism and false philanthropy.” quote by Frédéric Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/frederic-bastiat-2151_law_the-law-has-been-perverted-through-the-i_3169824.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/frederic-bastiat-2151_law_the-law-has-been-perverted-through-the-i_3169824.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/frederic-bastiat-2151_law_the-law-has-been-perverted-through-the-i_3169824.png) > ““The law has been perverted through the influence of two very different causes—bare egotism and false philanthropy.”” [Frédéric 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. Power can be twisted by selfish self‑interest and deceptive altruism, corrupting justice. **In simple terms:** Selfishness and fake charity distort law. Key Takeaway Guard against ego and false generosity. Themes justice ethics politics corruption Mood critical concerned Type analytical political When to use this quote - policy making - activism - public discourse Key Concepts self‑interest philanthropy power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do we differentiate genuine aid from self‑serving motives? - What safeguards protect law from distortion? A Different Perspective Ego and false philanthropy can also inspire reform movements. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bare Egotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bare-egotism-5765048/) [Egotism False](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egotism-false-3109795/) [False Philanthropy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/false-philanthropy-3109794/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law Perverted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-perverted-348156/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Perverted Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perverted-influence-2407260/) ## Related quotes > [“Legal plunder has two roots: one of them, as we have already seen, is in human egotism; the other is in false philanthropy. Before”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/legal-plunder-has-two-roots-one-of-them-as-we-have-already-seen-is-in/) [Frédéric Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [The law has been perverted through the influence of two very different causes-naked greed and misconceived philanthropy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-has-been-perverted-through-the-influence-of-two-very/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“The law perverted! The law — and, in its wake, all the collective forces of the nation — the law, I say, not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-perverted-the-law-and-in-its-wake-all-the-collective-forces/) [Frédéric 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/) > [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/) > [The law has been perverted, and the powers of the state have become perverted along with it. The law has not only been turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-has-been-perverted-and-the-powers-of-the-state-have-become/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [When the rule of law is being perverted to the rule of the 'good intentions' of unelected judges, it is time for serious study…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-tancredo/when-the-rule-of-law-is-being-perverted-to-the-rule-of-the-good/) [Tom Tancredo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-tancredo/) > [“Another effect of this deplorable perversion of the law is, that it gives to human passions and to political struggles, and, in general, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/another-effect-of-this-deplorable-perversion-of-the-law-is-that-it/) [Frédéric Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“Any law too often subject to infraction is bad; it is the duty of the legislator to repeal or to change it, lest the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-yourcenar/any-law-too-often-subject-to-infraction-is-bad-it-is-the-duty-of-the/) [Marguerite Yourcenar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-yourcenar/) > [Laws are not masters but servants, and he rules them who obey them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/laws-are-not-masters-but-servants-and-he-rules-them-who-obey-them/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Well of course there's been a great deal of progress over the last 40 years. We don't have laws that segregate black people within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-davis/well-of-course-there-s-been-a-great-deal-of-progress-over-the-last-40/) [Angela Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-davis/) > [The function of the law is not to provide justice or to preserve freedom. The function of the law is to keep those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/the-function-of-the-law-is-not-to-provide-justice-or-to-preserve/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [We are always saying: Let the Law take its Course but what we really mean is: Let the Law take OUR Course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/we-are-always-saying-let-the-law-take-its-course-but-what-we-really/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [“The laws of every country must be analogous to some common principle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-laws-of-every-country-must-be-analogous-to-some-common-principle/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The law is like apparel, which alters with the time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dodderidge/the-law-is-like-apparel-which-alters-with-the-time/) [John Dodderidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dodderidge/) ## More by Frédéric 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 Frédéric Bastiat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) ## More Law quotes > [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [ \[Islam\] Leaves no room of human legislation in an Islamic state, because herein all legislative functions vest in God and the only function left… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abul-a-la-maududi/islam-leaves-no-room-of-human-legislation-in-an-islamic-state-because/) [Abul A'la Maududi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abul-a-la-maududi/) > [The law is like apparel, which alters with the time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dodderidge/the-law-is-like-apparel-which-alters-with-the-time/) [John Dodderidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dodderidge/) > [I am convinced that we will never build a democratic state based on rule of law if we do not at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-am-convinced-that-we-will-never-build-a-democratic-state-based-on/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Dictatorship is rule based directly upon force and unrestricted by any laws. The revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat is rule won and maintained by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/dictatorship-is-rule-based-directly-upon-force-and-unrestricted-by/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Laws undertake to punish only overt acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/laws-undertake-to-punish-only-overt-acts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [In relations between the rich and the strong, between the rich and the poor, between the master and the servant, it's liberty that grinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-relations-between-the-rich-and-the-strong-between-the-rich-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The laws of every country must be analogous to some common principle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-laws-of-every-country-must-be-analogous-to-some-common-principle/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Browse all 16,973 Law quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The law has been perverted through the influence of two very different causes—bare egotism and false philanthropy.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frédéric Bastiat" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-has-been-perverted-through-the-influence-of-two-very-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Law" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-has-been-perverted-through-the-influence-of-two-very-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/frederic-bastiat-2151_law_the-law-has-been-perverted-through-the-i_3169824.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/frederic-bastiat-2151_law_the-law-has-been-perverted-through-the-i_3169824.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/frederic-bastiat-2151_law_the-law-has-been-perverted-through-the-i_3169824.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The law has been perverted through the influence of two very different causes—bare egotism and false…” — Frédéric 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": "Frédéric Bastiat", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The law has been perverted through...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-has-been-perverted-through-the-influence-of-two-very-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-has-been-perverted-through-the-influence-of-two-very-2/#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 } } ] } ```