The Seductive Lure of Socialism

by Frédéric Bastiat

　　Here I encounter the most popular fallacy of our times. It is notconsidered sufficient that the law should be just; it must bephilanthropic. Nor is it sufficient that the law should guarantee toevery citizen the free and inoffensive use of his faculties forphysical, intellectual, and moral self-improvement. Instead, it isdemanded that the law should directly extend welfare, education, andmorality throughout the nation.

　　This is the seductive lure of socialism. And I repeat again:These two uses of the law are in direct contradiction to each other.We must choose between them. A citizen cannot at the same time befree and not free.