And now that the legislators and do-gooders have so futilely inflicted so many systems upon society, may they finally end where they should have begun: May they reject all systems, and try liberty; for liberty is an acknowledgment of faith in God and His works.

— Frédéric Bastiat

Frédéric Bastiat Quotes

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.

— Frédéric Bastiat

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.

— Frédéric Bastiat

Slavery, protection, and monopoly find defenders, not only in those who profit by them, but in those who suffer by them.

— Frédéric Bastiat

Legal plunder has two roots: One, as we have just seen, is in human selfishness; the other is in false philanthropy.

— Frédéric Bastiat

The balance of trade is an article of faith.

— Frédéric Bastiat

Treat all economic questions from the viewpoint of the consumer, for the interests of the consumer are the interests of the human race.

— Frédéric Bastiat

The politician attempts to remedy the evil by increasing the very thing that caused the evil in the first place: legal plunder.

— Frédéric Bastiat

Justice is achieved only when injustice is absent.

— Frédéric Bastiat

The law commit legal plunder by violating liberty and property.

— Frédéric Bastiat

No legal plunder: This is the principle of justice...

— Frédéric Bastiat

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?

— Frédéric Bastiat

Man acquires wealth in proportion as he puts his labor to better account.

— Frédéric Bastiat

And what is liberty, whose very name makes the heart beat faster and shakes the world? Is it not the union of all liberties – liberty of conscience, of education, of association, of the press, of travel, or labor, or trade?

— Frédéric Bastiat

It is easier to show the disorder that must accompany reform than the order that should follow it.

— Frédéric Bastiat

As long as it is admitted that the law may be diverted from its true purpose – that it may violate property instead of protecting it – then everyone will want to participate in making the law, either to protect himself against plunder or to use it for plunder.

— Frédéric Bastiat

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.

— Frédéric Bastiat

The profit of the one is the profit of the other.

— Frédéric Bastiat

We hold from God the gift which includes all others. This gift is life – physical, intellectual, and moral life.

— Frédéric Bastiat

When, then, does plunder stop? It stops when it becomes more painful and more dangerous than labor.

— Frédéric Bastiat

It’s always tempting to do good at someone else’s expense.

— Frédéric Bastiat
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