When under the pretext of fraternity, the legal code imposes mutual sacrifices on the citizens, human nature is not thereby abrogated. Everyone will then direct his efforts toward contributing little to, and taking much from, the common fund of sacrifices. Now, is it the most unfortunate who gains from this struggle? Certainly not, but rather the most influential and calculating.
– Frédéric Bastiat
Why were the really smart Frenchmen born a long, long time ago?
Because those who would parent and educate any today have in fact emigrated stateside, perhaps?
Is there any better illustration of “a prophet is not without honor save in his own country” than the fact that the French produced, and proceeded to ignore, two of the greatest liberal thinkers (the other of course being Constant)?
Amen, Steve. Bastiat is my HERO, and I wish more people were familiar with him. All of his writing is very accessible and persuasive (I think.) But who is this Constant character? I suppose I’ll have to Google him and find out more. Thanks for the tip!
A cynic’s reinterpretation of this axiom is that it applies to all associations. The operative element is “imposes mutual sacrifices”. When the association is voluntary, an individual is free to leave when he or she deems they are sacrificing much more than they are gaining. Not so when it is the State. Then, the only recourse is revolution.
To assist in Googling Constant- his first name was Benjamin. Enjoy your discoveries.