"It must be admitted that the tendency of the human race toward liberty is largely thwarted, especially in France. This is greatly due to a fatal desire -- learned from the teachings of antiquity -- that our writers on public affairs have in common: They desire to set themselves above mankind in order to arrange, organize, and regulate it according to their fancy."
by:
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
Source:
What Is Liberty? "The Law" by Frederic Bastiat (1848)
http://liberty-tree.ca/research/TheLaw
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Reader comments about this quote:
OK, written about France but, accurate everywhere. The occupying statist theocracy infesting this land desires to set themselves above mankind in order to arrange, organize, and regulate it according to their fancy (antithetical to the laws of nature and of nature's God).
 -- Mike, Norwalk     
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     -- Ronw13, Yachats Or      
    The last line in the quote describes perfectly the attitudes of the liberals now infesting our country.
     -- Jim k, Austin     
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    " The subjective theory of value. " The French and the Austrians have their way of getting the point across. Humans engage in purposeful behavior. Economics and Morality collide. " Society endorses activities that are morally equivalent to the glazer hiring a boy to break windows ! "
    ' Parable of the Broken Window. " Creative-Destruction " of capitalism, socialism, and democracy. Bastiat , Mises, Espinas, concur " Destruction is not profit ' Through the study of " Praxeology and Platonic Realism, during these periods of time, men being exposed to natural laws through numbers and geometric figures see clearly the correlation, between natural law and morally fit behavior. Industrialist cared not for moral value, even if it meant Burning down Paris. " That Which is Seen and That Which is not Seen." Frederic Bastiat.
    Great reads, the Glazers fallacy. ( The order of the whole and its unity ) this knowledge has cost France again.
    Friday 11- 13 - 1307.
     -- Ronw13, Yachats Or     
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    The tracks of Liberty and Freedom, in the sand, a very dry desert of humanity. Were the tracks man made, or otherwise ?
    An inherent quality by natures way, to detect the presence of God. Bedoin's do it well. Hence " In God we Trust "
    Prayers go out for the French. God Bless. Semper Fi
     -- Ronw13, Yachats Or     
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    The "desire to set themselves above mankind in order to arrange, organize, and regulate it according to their fancy" is the very reason the free man/woman have limited the powers of their representatives. I believe this contest for the power over others will always be present to some degree or another. And there will always be a significant percentage of people who are willing to submit themselves body, mind, and soul to be 'saved' and 'serve' as a protected member of a community. Let that in.... because such a mentality is hardly a foundation for liberty and personal responsibility, it is voluntary servitude. And we are being pitched this con everyday by church and state to 'surrender' to the 'lord' whether religious (Jewish, Muslim, Christian, ...) or secular (government).

    Not everyone wants to be taken care of by the State -- especially if you have ever known anything else, mediocrity is the most one can expect from the State. Frankly I am tired of being 'arranged, organized, and regulated' according to the fancies of others. Enough!
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    After the beheading of a dear relative, not far removed, who of note, sided with the 13 colonies, seeking to end the oppression of surfs, the lowering of taxes, property and person. King Louis XVI wrongfully, unjustly, murdered by the church and state of France. It is no wonder why America did not ally with the French revolution. And it is no wonder we sought refuge in the Americas that our children might live Free and at liberty. 
     -- Ronw13, Oregon     
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     -- jim k, Austin      
     -- Mary, MI      
     
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