Nevertheless, even in the United States, there are two questions, and only two, that from the beginning have endangered political order. And what are… - Frédéric Bastiat

ha procedido en forma contraria a su propia finalidad; ha destruido su propia meta; se ha aplicado a aniquilar aquella justicia que debía hacer reinar, a anular, entre los derechos, aquellos límites que era su misión hacer respetar; ha puesto la fuerza colectiva al servicio de quienes quieran explotar, sin riesgo y sin escrúpulos, la persona, la libertad o la propiedad ajenas; ha convertido la expoliación, para protegerla, en derecho y la legítima defensa en crimen, para castigarla. ¿Cómo se ha llevado a cabo semejante perversión de la ley? ¿Cuáles son sus consecuencias?

When under the pretext of fraternity, the legal code imposes mutual sacrifices on the citizens, human nature is not thereby abrogated. Everyone will then direct his efforts toward contributing little to, and taking much from, the common fund of sacrifices. Now, is it the most unfortunate who gains from this struggle? Certainly not, but rather the most influential and calculating.

Imagine a state of affairs in which, for each man killed in action, two spring from the ground full of strength and energy. If there is a planet where such things happen, war, it must be admitted, is conducted there under conditions so different from those we see down here that it no longer deserves even to be called by the same name.