People are beginning to realize that the apparatus of government is costly. But what they do not know is that the burden falls inevitably on them. Frederic Bastiat More Quotes by Frederic Bastiat More Quotes From Frederic Bastiat The creation of new capital always... releases... labor. Its actual effect [though] is not to make jobs scarce, but to free men's labor for other jobs. Frederic Bastiat creationjobsmen Since no individual acting separately can lawfully use force to destroy the rights of others, does it not logically follow that the same principle also applies to the common force that is nothing more than the organized combination of the individual forces? Frederic Bastiat actingprinciplesrights 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 libertyselflaw Thus, if there exists a law which sanctions slavery or monopoly, oppression or robbery, in any form whatever, it must not even be mentioned. For how can it be mentioned without damaging the respect which it inspires? Still further, morality and political economy must be taught from the point of view of this law; from the supposition that it must be a just law merely because it is a law. Another effect of this tragic perversion of the law is that it gives an exaggerated importance to political passions and conflicts, and to politics in general. Frederic Bastiat passionviewslaw We cannot doubt that self-interest is the mainspring of human nature. It must be clearly understood that this word is used here to designate a universal, incontestable fact, resulting from the nature of man, and not an adverse judgment, as would be the word selfishness. Frederic Bastiat selfdoubtmen This question of legal plunder must be settled once and for all, and there are only three ways to settle it: (1) The few plunder the many. (2) Everybody plunders everybody. (3) Nobody plunders anybody. Frederic Bastiat libertythreeway They will come to learn in the end, at their own expense, that it is better to endure competition for rich customers than to be invested with monopoly over impoverished customers. Frederic Bastiat economicsrichcompetition Let us first of all frugality in government-peace and freedom we will have as a bonus. Frederic Bastiat politicalgovernmentphilosophy Legal plunder has two roots: One, as we have just seen, is in human selfishness; the other is in false philanthropy. Frederic Bastiat rootsjusticetwo The balance of trade is an article of faith. Frederic Bastiat imbalancebalancetrade Law is justice. And it is under the law of justice - under the reign of right; under the influence of liberty, safety, stability, and responsibility - that every person will attain his real worth and the true dignity of his being. It is only under this law of justice that mankind will achieve - slowly, no doubt, but certainly - God's design for the orderly and peaceful progress of humanity. Frederic Bastiat realresponsibilitypeace In war, the stronger overcomes the weaker. In business, the stronger imparts strength to the weaker. Frederic Bastiat strongerbusinesswar Law is justice. In this proposition a simple and enduring government can be conceived. And I defy anyone to say how even the thought of revolution, of insurrection, of the slightest uprising could arise against a government whose organized force was confined only to suppressing injustice. Frederic Bastiat governmentsimplelaw What, then is law [government]? It is the collective organization of the individual right to lawful defense. Frederic Bastiat governmentorganizationlaw When under the pretext of fraternity, the legal code imposes mutual sacrifices on the citizens, human nature is not thereby abrogated. Everyone will then direct his efforts toward contributing little to, and taking much from, the common fund of sacrifices. Now, is it the most unfortunate who gains from this struggle? Certainly not, but rather the most influential and calculating. Frederic Bastiat effortsacrificestruggle The profit of the one is the profit of the other. Frederic Bastiat profit Man acquires wealth in proportion as he puts his labor to better account. Frederic Bastiat proportionwealthmen [To learn] is to harness Nature; to spare man all that is most physical, backbreaking, and brutish in the work of production; to make mind master over matter. Frederic Bastiat mattermindmen The mission of law is not to oppress persons and plunder them of their property, even thought the law may be acting in a philanthropic spirit. Its mission is to protect property. Frederic Bastiat actinglawmay Nothing is more senseless than to base so many expectations on the state, that is, to assume the existence of collective wisdom and foresight after taking for granted the existence of individual imbecility and improvidence. Frederic Bastiat grantedassumingexpectations
