We hold from God the gift which, as far as we are concerned, contains all others, Life- physical, intellectual, and moral life. But life cannot support itself. He who has bestowed it, has entrusted us with the care of supporting it, of developing it, and of perfecting it. To that end, He has provided us with a collection of wonderful faculties; He has plunged us into the midst of a variety of elements. It is by the application of our faculties to these elements, that the phenomena of assimilation and of appropriation, by ...
Read More
We hold from God the gift which, as far as we are concerned, contains all others, Life- physical, intellectual, and moral life. But life cannot support itself. He who has bestowed it, has entrusted us with the care of supporting it, of developing it, and of perfecting it. To that end, He has provided us with a collection of wonderful faculties; He has plunged us into the midst of a variety of elements. It is by the application of our faculties to these elements, that the phenomena of assimilation and of appropriation, by which life pursues the circle which has been assigned to it, are realized. Existence, faculties, assimilation-in other words, personality, liberty, property-this is man. It is of these three things that it may be said, apart from all demagogue subtlety, that they are interior and superior to all human legislation. - Taken from "The Law" written by Frederic Bastiat
Read Less
This book was written in a time when people were thinking, not opining. If one is truly interested in freedom and how laws are written and the rationale behind those written laws should read this book.
Khlit
Jun 22, 2009
Short but to the point; easy but powerful
This very short book is a very powerful treatise in favor of natural law, the free market, capitalism, the private sector, and limited government. Refutes the ideas of socialism very quickly and easily. Its very easy to understand and does not take long to read at all. Every US legislator should have to read this book. Next to the constitution and declaration of independence, it is the most important book in america
ShawnCL
Jul 5, 2007
Paradigm Shift
I grew up in a socialist country thinking that government intervention was a good thing. Moreover, I thought that 'rights' entailed entitlements I had on everyone else, especially the wealthy. Bastiat's work on 'The Law' challenges that whole conception from head to toe. Moreover, it is the kind of paradigm shifting gem you rarely come across in political, legal, or economic literature. In less than a hundred pages, Bastiat lucidly argues the case that laws should only be minimally used to defend, and not to remove, personal liberty. It single-handedly changed my mind on a number of issues. Highly reccomended, especially since it can be had so cheaply.
JSGINC
Jun 22, 2007
Economic version of LEX REX
Excellent book! A necessary read for all engaged in economics and politics (hence, everybody)!!! This book should be a required reading for all university students in all disciplines.
Bastiat is both brilliant and rhetorically sublime with his depth and ease of comprehension.
Huffy
May 24, 2007
LIBERTY's TRUE MEANING
This skinniest of wee tomes, is packed with amazing philosophical truths. In it, one of the great philosophers so clearly presents a discourse on Liberty, it can be understood by even us ordinary citizens.
Many readers will have epiphanies upon learning Bastiat?s definition of the SOCIALISM, so cleverly incorporated in U.S. government since the 1860?s. He terms Socialism ?LEGAL PLUNDER, ? contending that the LAW [ which is in our case, our government] has as its purpose protection of citizens from plunder, but ?the Law, not only fails to do so, it participates in it,? placing ?the whole apparatus of judges, police, prisons ?? at the service of the plunderers. The government then treats the victim--when he defends himself?as a criminal.?
Bastiat defines Legal Plunder: ?See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them and gives it to others to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime.?
Every person who pays taxes, loves his U.S. heritage, or cares about his children?s future, should read The Law as an accompaniment of the United States Constitution.
