Category: Thought

Nature has provided, by means as simple as they are infallible, that there should be dispersion, diffusion, coordination, simultaneous progress, all constituting a state of things that your restrictive laws paralyze as much as they can; for the tendency of such laws is, by isolating communities, to render the diversity of condition much more marked, to prevent equalization, hinder integration, neutralize countervailing circumstances, and segregate nations, whether in their superiority or in their inferiority of condition.

Frédéric Bastiat, from Economic Sophisms, “To Equalize the Conditions of Production” — the “such laws” mentioned are protectionist measures, and protectionism was the chief target of Bastiat’s famous book.

The real problems of our world are not being confronted by those in power. In the guise of public service, they use whatever comes to hand for personal gain. They are insane with and for power.

Frank Herbert, The Dosadi Experiment (1977).

Either fraternity is spontaneous, or it does not exist. To decree it is to annihilate it. The law can indeed force men to remain just; in vain would it try to force them to be self-sacrificing.

Frédéric Bastiat, “Justice and fraternity,” in Journal des Économistes (June 15, 1848).

Does a population have informed consent when that population is not taught the inner workings of its monetary system, and then is drawn, all unknowing, into economic adventures?

Frank Herbert, The Dosadi Experiment (1977).

A tax-supported, compulsory educational system is the complete model of the totalitarian state.

ISABEL PATERSON The God of the Machine (1943), p. 258.

It is impossible to persuade a man who does not disagree, but smiles.

Muriel Spark, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1961).

Whether it does any good or not, a law enforced must hurt someone.

ISABEL PATERSON The God of the Machine (1943), p. 92.

“That’s the one thing good about ‘woke’ is that it is fake. Right? The natives are like ‘land back’; and then the white people are like ‘land back’ — right? And the natives are like ‘so we’re gonna get it back?’ and then we’re like ‘not . . . not really. It’s kind of just a thing we say — we do t-shirts.’”

Ben Bankas, comedy bit placed on Facebook.

No government has yet been able to repeal natural laws, though they keep trying.

Robert A. Heinlein, Farnham’s Freehold (1964).

It is our habit to dismiss the Old Testament altogether because Jehovah, or Jahve, does not think or behave like a social worker.

Doris Lessing, Shikasta (1979), p. x.