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.
More Quotes from Claude Frédéric Bastiat:
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 Gods design for the orderly and peaceful progress of humanity.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
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.
Claude Frédéric Bastiat
The plans differ the planners are all alike....
Claude Frédéric Bastiat
If you wish to prosper, let your customer prosper. When people have learned this lesson, everyone will seek his individual welfare in the general welfare. Then jealousies between man and man, city and city, province and province, nation and nation, will no longer trouble the world.
Claude Frédéric Bastiat
The worst thing that can happen to a good cause is, not to be skillfully attacked, but to be ineptly defended.
Claude Frédéric Bastiat
Readers Who Like This Quotation Also Like:
Based on Topics: History Quotes, Labor Quotes, Law & Regulation Quotes, Man Quotes, Morality Quotes, Power Quotes, Work & Career QuotesBased on Keywords: plunder
Every football player knows when his time is up.
Red Grange
People have always found me challenging - I don't know why, when I am only being myself. I don't understand why they find me so annoying but they do. It is pity, but that is how it is.
Ian Hamilton Finlay
I cleaned up my act because otherwise I would have kicked the bucket.
Lou Reed