Socialists Ignore Reason and Facts

by Frédéric Bastiat

　　With the amazing credulity which is typical of the classicists,Fenelon ignores the authority of reason and facts when he attributesthe general happiness of the Egyptians, not to their own wisdom but tothe wisdom of their kings:

　　 "We could not turn our eyes to either shore without seeingrich towns and country estates most agreeably located; fields, neverfallowed, covered with golden crops every year; meadows full offlocks; workers bending under the weight of the fruit which the earthlavished upon its cultivators; shepherds who made the echoes resoundwith the soft notes from their pipes and flutes. "Happy," saidMentor, "is the people governed by a wise king.". . ."

　　Later, Mentor desired that I observe the contentment and abundancewhich covered all Egypt, where twenty-two thousand cities could becounted. He admired the good police regulations in the cities; thejustice rendered in favor of the poor against the rich; the soundeducation of the children in obedience, labor, sobriety, and the loveof the arts and letters; the exactness with which all religiousceremonies were performed; the unselfishness, the high regard forhonor, the faithfulness to men, and the fear of the gods which everyfather taught his children. He never stopped admiring the prosperityof the country. "Happy," said he, "is the people ruled by a wise kingin such a manner."