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The Best of Frederic Bastiat
“The worst thing that can happen to a good cause is not to be skillfully attacked, but to be ineptly defended.” ~Frederic Bastiat
Frederic Bastiat wrote with urgency and passion for the free society, even until his last breath. He knew that political systems were not enough to preserve freedom.
We need public consensus that comes from practical and moral conviction. He left us with the perfect model for how to obtain this.
This is why AIER has put together this collection consisting of five of Bastiat’s most lucid and compelling pieces. There are many others, so please just consider this the essence of his work, a beginning and not an end.
If this is your first time encountering his great work, prepare yourself for a change of mind, and a lifetime of intellectual adventure.
Frederic Bastiat (1801-1850) was a French economist who wrote with urgency and passion for the free society. His writings greatly influenced the Austrian School. Bastiat is regarded by some historians as “the most brilliant economic journalist who ever lived.”
I. The Law
II. That Which is Seen, and That Which is Not Seen
III. The Candlemakers’ Petition
IV. A Negative Railroad
V. Government
Frederic Bastiat wrote with urgency and passion for the free society, even until his last breath. He knew that political systems were not enough to preserve freedom.
We need public consensus that comes from practical and moral conviction. He left us with the perfect model for how to obtain this.
This is why AIER has put together this collection consisting of five of Bastiat’s most lucid and compelling pieces. There are many others, so please just consider this the essence of his work, a beginning and not an end.
If this is your first time encountering his great work, prepare yourself for a change of mind, and a lifetime of intellectual adventure.
Frederic Bastiat (1801-1850) was a French economist who wrote with urgency and passion for the free society. His writings greatly influenced the Austrian School. Bastiat is regarded by some historians as “the most brilliant economic journalist who ever lived.”
I. The Law
II. That Which is Seen, and That Which is Not Seen
III. The Candlemakers’ Petition
IV. A Negative Railroad
V. Government
156 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2020
12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 18, 2024
2024-03-18 Just finished this morning. What a great little book! Highly recommended for those who:
- would like to get some clear and often humorous thinking and writing about subjects such as: The Law, Justice, Government, Violence, Plunder, Trade, Socialism, economics, morality, etc. etc.
- might be amazed and pleased to read an author who explained problems and solutions for society >170 years ago, but which is just as readable and applicable today, as it was then
- would enjoy reading a short book of essays by probably the greatest economic essayist ever
The other 4 essays in the book (besides "The Law" noted below) are:
"That which is seen, and that which is not seen" (60pp) - This chapter motivated and guided Henry Hazlitt in his writing of his best selling book: "Economics in One Lesson."
"The Candlemakers Petition" (4pp) - so cool - dealing with the unfairest competitor of all.
"A Negative Railroad" (4pp) - some ideas/policies are so foolish, it takes a Bastiat to call them out.
"Government" (15pp) - simple rules for what government is/isn't and consequently what it can/can't do and should/should not try to do.
Enjoy.
2024-01-07 Started reading this book today. Wonderful collection of essays by Bastiat that starts out with his most famous work: "The Law" (64 pp.). I've read this essay (which has been published as a short book by several organizations) several times over the past 45 years or so, but not for a quite a while. I believe I have read all the other essays included too, but also not for quite a while.
It is very neat to be getting back to this classic statement on such important topics as:
What is the Law?
A Fatal Tendency of Mankind
Plunder - the crucial concept, and just how common and pernicious legal plunder is.
How to Identify Legal Plunder - many names
Slavery and Tariffs are Plunder
Proper function of the Law
Fraternity - voluntary vs. forced
etc.
While the writers, examples and a few of the ideas referred to in the book may not be current, the main ideas are as real, current and imposing on us today as the day Bastiat wrote this essay in 1850. I'm looking forward to savoring (again) the rest of The Law and all the other essays in this short - 156pp book, which include:
"That which is seen, and that which is not seen."
"The Candlemakers Petition."
"A Negative Railroad."
"Government"
Hope you have a chance to enjoy and profit from this book too. Our country and the world need so many more people who have read, understand and communicate the ideas in this book very much, to be able to live in a world governed by peace, prosperity, human thriving and justice.
One of the reasons I am reading this book of essays I have previously read by Bastiat is that I am:
- the co-director of The Mont Hamilton/Bastiat Society of San Jose area
- the co-founder/director of the Bastiat Society of Northern Michigan and
- advisor to the organizer of the planned Bastiat Society of Boston area
For more information on The Bastiat Society, just do an internet search and you will find plenty of information on it at the website of the organization AIER. Or feel free to message me.
- would like to get some clear and often humorous thinking and writing about subjects such as: The Law, Justice, Government, Violence, Plunder, Trade, Socialism, economics, morality, etc. etc.
- might be amazed and pleased to read an author who explained problems and solutions for society >170 years ago, but which is just as readable and applicable today, as it was then
- would enjoy reading a short book of essays by probably the greatest economic essayist ever
The other 4 essays in the book (besides "The Law" noted below) are:
"That which is seen, and that which is not seen" (60pp) - This chapter motivated and guided Henry Hazlitt in his writing of his best selling book: "Economics in One Lesson."
"The Candlemakers Petition" (4pp) - so cool - dealing with the unfairest competitor of all.
"A Negative Railroad" (4pp) - some ideas/policies are so foolish, it takes a Bastiat to call them out.
"Government" (15pp) - simple rules for what government is/isn't and consequently what it can/can't do and should/should not try to do.
Enjoy.
2024-01-07 Started reading this book today. Wonderful collection of essays by Bastiat that starts out with his most famous work: "The Law" (64 pp.). I've read this essay (which has been published as a short book by several organizations) several times over the past 45 years or so, but not for a quite a while. I believe I have read all the other essays included too, but also not for quite a while.
It is very neat to be getting back to this classic statement on such important topics as:
What is the Law?
A Fatal Tendency of Mankind
Plunder - the crucial concept, and just how common and pernicious legal plunder is.
How to Identify Legal Plunder - many names
Slavery and Tariffs are Plunder
Proper function of the Law
Fraternity - voluntary vs. forced
etc.
While the writers, examples and a few of the ideas referred to in the book may not be current, the main ideas are as real, current and imposing on us today as the day Bastiat wrote this essay in 1850. I'm looking forward to savoring (again) the rest of The Law and all the other essays in this short - 156pp book, which include:
"That which is seen, and that which is not seen."
"The Candlemakers Petition."
"A Negative Railroad."
"Government"
Hope you have a chance to enjoy and profit from this book too. Our country and the world need so many more people who have read, understand and communicate the ideas in this book very much, to be able to live in a world governed by peace, prosperity, human thriving and justice.
One of the reasons I am reading this book of essays I have previously read by Bastiat is that I am:
- the co-director of The Mont Hamilton/Bastiat Society of San Jose area
- the co-founder/director of the Bastiat Society of Northern Michigan and
- advisor to the organizer of the planned Bastiat Society of Boston area
For more information on The Bastiat Society, just do an internet search and you will find plenty of information on it at the website of the organization AIER. Or feel free to message me.
March 13, 2024
Bastiat is a very good thinker and really lays a great groundwork for limited government. I liked the selections that this editor brought forward in the book and makes it easier to digest Bastiat without much of the redundancy that is in the original works.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews