Law Is Force

by Frédéric Bastiat

　　Since the law organizes justice, the socialists ask why the lawshould not also organize labor, education, and religion.

　　Why should not law be used for these purposes? Because it couldnot organize labor, education, and religion without destroyingjustice. We must remember that law is force, and that, consequently,the proper functions of the law cannot lawfully extend beyond theproper functions of force.

　　When law and force keep a person within the bounds of justice,they impose nothing but a mere negation. They oblige him only toabstain from harming others. They violate neither his personality,his liberty, nor his property. They safeguard all of these. They aredefensive; they defend equally the rights of all.