If every person has the right to defend even by force his person, his liberty, and his property, then it follows that a group of men have the right to organize and support a common force to protect these rights constantly. Thus, since an individual cannot lawfully use force against the person, liberty, or property of another individual, then the common force for the same reason cannot lawfully be used to destroy the person, liberty, or property of individuals or groups.
More Quotes from Claude Frédéric Bastiat:
Since the law organizes justice, the socialists ask why the law should not also organize labor, education, and religion. Why should not law be used for these purposes Because it could not organize labor, education, and religion without destroying justice. We must remember that law is force, and that, consequently, the proper functions of the law cannot lawfully extend beyond the proper functions of force. When law and force keep a person within the bounds of justice, they impose nothing but a mere negation. They oblige him only to abstain from harming others. They violate neither his personality, his liberty, nor his property. They safeguard all of these. They are defensive they defend equally the rights of all.Claude Frédéric Bastiat
We cannot but be astonished at the ease with which men resign themselves to ignorance about what is most important for them to know and we may be certain that they are determined to remain invincibly ignorant if they once come to consider it as axiomatic that there are no absolute principles.
Claude Frédéric Bastiat
It is easier to show the disorder that must accompany reform than the order that should follow it.
Claude Frédéric Bastiat
Now since man is naturally inclined to avoid pain and since labor is pain in itself it follows that men will resort to plunder whenever plunder is easier than work. History shows this quite clearly. And under these conditions, neither religion nor morality can stop it. When, then, does plunder stop It stops when it becomes more painful and more dangerous than labor. It is evident, then, that the proper purpose of law is to use the power of its collective force to stop this fatal tendency to plunder instead of to work. All the measures of the law should protect property and punish plunder.
Claude Frédéric Bastiat
The plans differ the planners are all alike....
Claude Frédéric Bastiat
Readers Who Like This Quotation Also Like:
Based on Topics: Liberty & Freedom Quotes, Man Quotes, Property QuotesBased on Keywords: lawfully
To delight in war is a merit in the soldier, a dangerous quality in the captain, and a positive crime in the statesman.
George Santayana
No doubt that the U.S. is a super-power capable of conquering a relatively small country, but is it able to control it?
Bashar al-Assad
We cannot go on as we are with 2.6 million people on incapacity benefit, 500,000 of them are under 35. Are we really saying there are half a million people in this country under 35 who are simply too ill to work? I don't think that's right.
David Cameron