Frederic BastiatFrederic Bastiat, (1801-1850) [Claude Frederic Bastiat] French economist, statesman, and author. He did most of his writing during the years just before -- and immediately following -- the French Revolution of February 1848

Frederic Bastiat Quote

“It is impossible to introduce into society a greater change and a greater evil than this: the conversion of the law into an instrument of plunder.”

Frederic BastiatFrederic Bastiat
~ Frederic Bastiat
(1801-1850) [Claude Frederic Bastiat] French economist, statesman, and author. He did most of his writing during the years just before -- and immediately following -- the French Revolution of February 1848
"The Law" by Frederic Bastiat (1848)
http://liberty-tree.ca/research/TheLaw

Economics , Freedom , Government , Politics , Responsibility , Socialism , Taxation , Liberty , Tax

Ratings and Comments


Robert, Sarasota
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Robert, Sarasota    4/2/07

How appropriate...

Joe, Rochester. MI
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Joe, Rochester. MI    4/2/07

As in the IRS.

helorat, Milton
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helorat, Milton    4/2/07

Amen!! Most certainly as in the IRS and the Congress that wrote their rules that no one can understand.

E Archer, NYC
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E Archer, NYC    4/2/07

And that is exactly what today's governments and the NWO have done! Congress merely meets to divide the spoils.

Mike, Norwalk
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Mike, Norwalk    4/2/07

What does it take to make John Q Public understand that the second plank of the communist manifesto was meant to kill freedoms, it doesn't have anything to do with funding the Republic? Theft of the noble labor's fruits is grand larceny, no matter the robber baron.

Mike, Norwalk
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Mike, Norwalk Mike, Norwalk 4/24/23

The originating States united set forth that the de jure jurisprudence was to be "the laws of nature and of nature's God" (Declaration of Independence). That "law" in the last decade of the 1700s was "changed" to begin a conversion of plunder through philosophies of applied legal positivism. From there, legal philosophies such as maritime jurisdictions merged with applications of plunder. Today, an occupying statist theocracy now infesting this land increases and adds to plunder with an annihilation of individual sovereignty, inalienable rights, liberty and ownership. Truly, plunder has replaced law.

Dave Wilber
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Dave Wilber    8/24/07

This describes both the Fedeal Reserve and all "revenue agents" who produce no revenue when the Fed says that their sys-tem of plunder "works only with credit." Their job is to conceal the fraud by regulat-ing our use of the "money" that Keynes called "worthless."

jim k, Austin, Tx
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jim k, Austin, Tx    4/24/12

Public Servents: Persons chosen by the people to distribute the graft. Mark Twain

J Carlton, Calgary
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J Carlton, Calgary    4/24/12

Nullify The Fed...Now!

Rita, WA
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Rita, WA    4/24/12

Sounds like where we are right now in this country.

Islam Forbids, Dar Al Harb
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Islam Forbids, Dar Al Harb    1/15/15

For the Children!

SpencerTrouton, New York
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SpencerTrouton, New York    10/21/25

I discovered Bastiat's writings during my economics studies and was struck by how relevant his 1848 observations remain today. His concept of legal plunder - where law becomes a tool to benefit some at others' expense - resonates when I see modern debates about taxation, subsidies, and regulations. What amazes me is how he identified this pattern over 170 years ago, yet we still grapple with the same fundamental question: should law protect individual rights or redistribute wealth? His clarity on this issue shaped my understanding of proper government limits.

Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown
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    Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown    10/21/25

    This individual is totally mentally impaired in that the imbalance of resources has actually caused the very condition the fellow, Bastiat, is describing as impossible, with the billionaires continuing to amass(plunder)  the advantage in resources more and more into their favor, though financial bullying. There is an intense need for a very heavy graduated tax formulation.  

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