His interest, his fame, his glory are never considered by himself with regard to the interest of justice and of humanity.

Frédéric Bastiat
Complete Works, Volume 7, pages 425 to 426 (in French)
October 7th, 1848

In this letter written on his way back from England, Frédéric Bastiat remembers Richard Cobden whom he just met again and who is finding himself in a popularity pit. Today’s quote refers to him. It conveys the high degree of probity of this great man.

Another interesting point is the feeling of Frédéric Bastiat who agrees with Richard Cobden to believe that the country is “closer to disarmament today than it was closer to free-trade when the League was founded”. This is remarkable when we know the successful repeal of the corn laws that had already occurred then. Besides, this is yet another demonstration of what drives the liberals. Unlike what their opponents  often believe, the liberals are not driven by personal enrichment (which is a most welcome side effect indeed) but by the good for humanity, which requires peace among other things. Peace is at the heart of liberal thought, as I have mentioned earlier with my favourite apocryphal quote.