Frederic Bastiat Quote 

"When law and morality contradict each other,
the citizen has the cruel alternative
of either losing his moral sense
or losing his respect for the law."

by:
Frederic Bastiat
(1801-1850) 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.
Date:
June 1850
Source:
"The Law" by Frederic Bastiat (1848)
http://liberty-tree.ca/research/TheLaw
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Reader comments about this quote:
The immoral will find a law to suit their purpose. Those with moral sense understand the justice system continues to become more corrupt with each new law.
 -- Joe, Rochester, MI		 
The truth of this quote is very evident in that many have lost their respect for the law.
 -- John, Williamsburg, PA		 
The "justice" system has been entirely replaced with a "legal" system. I've chosen to remain moral.
 -- J Carlton, Calgary		 
I chose to lose my respect for the "law" in this case.
 -- Me Again		 
"No man's life, liberty or property is safe, when the legislature is in session." This is the scary part, we have a bunch of lawyers in that nest of thieves known as the US Congress making more laws every day.
 -- jim k, austin,tx		 
Morality and law are like two sides of a balance sheet. Neither one is absolute or unchanging. It once was moral to throw criminals and christians (the same thing) and gladiators (sportsmen) to their death at hands of each other or of animals. I feel certain that it was not against the law, the law supported the Roman morality. Bottom line the two sides of the balance sheet must agree and be brought into balance when an imbalance occurs. Of course the moral dimension should be the more controlling influence, however, it must be agreed upon morality, some people have different morals but the law applies to all.equally without regard to peoples different moral codes; there is the dilemma. Live with it.
 -- Waffler, Smith, Arkansas		 
In the context it was given, absolutely. There are laws and related morals that express freedom and liberty and, there are laws and morality that define the survival of the fittest. If an individual's morality includes love, truth, charity, integrity, honor, faith in the nobility of man, freedom, and liberty, those codes, rules and statutes (referred to as law in the quote) that promote compelled compliance, license, victimless crimes, larceny with impunity, suspension of habeas corpus, suspension of religious expressions, and tyranny (by way of extremely terse example - The Patriot Act), create a loss of respect for the law.
 -- Mike, Norwalk		 
The only way to challenge the unconstitutionality of a 'law' is to ignore it. America was founded upon such a principle when our forefathers said "NO" to their king and dared to declare themselves free. Such courage is needed today.
 -- E Archer, NYC		 
This is why the cops better get themselves in check and start policing those cops that dont. Sooner or later, the people will find it necessary to protect themselves, by any means necessary.
 -- ken, pa		 
Again you are proving the point of the quote Waffler!
 -- warren, olathe		 
If your government passes and enforces a truly unjust law, it is your duty to oppose it simply by (politely) refusing to comply, and to be willing to accept the consequences that come your way.
 -- Anonymous		 
The Law is the perfect tool for tyrants to justify oppression. We are brainwashed by public education to "obey the law" but we are never given the opportunity to ask ourselves "who wrote those laws?". What if a law is evil? Should we obey it? The people writing the laws are among the most corrupt and immoral people on earth - they are called politicians.
 -- Daniel Morin		 
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