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Quote by Frederic Bastiat

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Frederic Bastiat
Frederic Bastiat

French economist and a prominent figure in the classical liberal tradition. Born on June 30, 1801, and died on December 24, 1850. His writings had a profound impact on economics and political philosophy. more

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“It is not true that the legislator has absolute power over our persons and property, since they pre-exist, and his work is only to secure them from injury. It is not true that the mission of the law is to regulate our consciences, our ideas, our will, our education, our sentiments, our works, our exchanges, our gifts, our enjoyments. Its mission is to prevent the rights of one from interfering with those of another, in any one of these things.”

PersonsIdeasLawLibertyRightsEconomicConscienceEconomicsAbsolutesPropertyMissionsSecureEnjoymentInjurySentimentsInterfereLegislatorsAbsolute Power
Book:The Law
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“It is indeed a singular thing that people wish to pass laws to nullify the disagreeable consequences that the law of responsibility entails. Will they never realize that they do not eliminate these consequences but merely pass them along to other people? The result is one injustice the more and one moral the less.”

PeopleLawWishRealizingResultsResponsibilityLibertyMoralEconomicConsequenceInjusticeLibertarianLibertarianismDisagreeable
Author:Frederic Bastiat
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“The highwayman takes solely upon himself the responsibility, danger, and crime of his own act. He does not pretend that he has any rightful claim to your money, or that he intends to use it for your own benefit ... Furthermore, having taken your money, he leaves you, as you wish him to do ... He does not keep "protecting" you by commanding you to bow down and serve him; by requiring you to do this, and forbidding you to do that.”

DoeUseWishResponsibilityLibertyTakenEconomicCrimeDangerBenefitsClaimsDown AndLibertarianBowsLibertarianismHighwaymen
Author:Lysander Spooner
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“Man, no doubt, owes many other moral duties to his fellow men; such as to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, care for the sick, protect the defenseless, assist the weak, and enlighten the ignorant. But these are simply moral duties, of which each man must be his own judge, in each particular case, as to whether, and how, and how far, he can, or will perform them.”

MenCareLibertyMoralCasesDoubtEconomicParticularJudgingDutyProtectWeakSickFellowsLibertarianHungryIgnorantNakedNo DoubtLibertarianismShelterHomelessFellow ManEnlighteningDefenselessMoral Duty
Book:Natural Law, Or, The Science of Justice: A Treatise on Natural Law, Natural Justice, Natural Rights, Natural Liberty, and Natural Society : Showing that All Legislation Whatsoever is an Absurdity, a Usurpation, and a Crime
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