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JdL's avatar

Bastiat is a wonderful writer. His words cut right to the heart of the subject at hand and do so with clear, direct language. Leonard Read employs the same skills in his writings, and you've assembled a great set of quotes from the two of them, as well as Hayek.

"Supporting government intervention in our lives is an illiberal habit of mind that costs us quite a lot."

This point cannot be overstated. If only we could conjure up the ghosts of the founders and have them give their assessment of society today! We have turned 180 degrees from the idea of government leaving people alone unless they've engaged in force or fraud.

As you say, the road back to freedom lies mainly within. It will not come from shouldering a weapon and looking for bad guys to shoot; that's the road to becoming the bad guy you hate. It will not come from screaming angry words on a street corner or online. It is a quiet understanding, a centeredness.

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David Weiner's avatar

I have always loved Bastiat. His timeless 1850 essay is a favorite of mine.

I recently realized that it may have been inspired, at least in part, by a biblical verse:

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

(2 Corinthians 4:18)

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