"Socialism, like the ancient ideas from which it springs,
confuses the distinction between government and
society. As a result of this, every time we object to a thing
being done by government, the socialists conclude that
we object to its being done at all. We disapprove of state
education. Then the socialists say that we are opposed
to any education. We object to a state religion. Then the
socialists say that we want no religion at all. We object
to a state-enforced equality. Then they say that we are
against equality. And so on, and so on. It is as if the
socialists were to accuse us of not wanting persons to
eat because we do not want the state to raise grain."
- Frédéric Bastiat
