The Law

"Socialism, like the ancient ideas from which it springs,

confuses the distinction between government and

society. As a result of this, every time we object to a thing

being done by government, the socialists conclude that

we object to its being done at all. We disapprove of state

education. Then the socialists say that we are opposed

to any education. We object to a state religion. Then the

socialists say that we want no religion at all. We object

to a state-enforced equality. Then they say that we are

against equality. And so on, and so on. It is as if the

socialists were to accuse us of not wanting persons to

eat because we do not want the state to raise grain."

- Frédéric Bastiat