When there is good to be done or evil to fight, relying on law enforcement first appears as the shortest, most economical and most efficient way to do. 

Frédéric Bastiat
Complete Works, Volume 1, pages 200 to 201 (in French)
October 20th, 1850

This seventh and last letter to Horace Say was written from Pisa during the last trip in Italie of Frédéric Bastiat attempting to cure himself. He would pass away two months later, on December 24th, 1850 in Rome.

After mentioning his physical suffering, he discusses about the future and what should be done in order to advance the cause of freedom and for economic science to take a larger role in French culture. He identifies “the State intervention” as a key to the ailments of the country. However, he warns that it should not be attacked heads on because not only it is supported by politicians but it is also popular. Indeed, today’s quote reminds us that the power of government makes it appear as the most practical solution to problems at first sight. However, believing that government can solve all problems is an illusion. It is thus impossible to count on its powers to base a system upon them, as all the socialist experiments of the 20th century have shown. Frédéric Bastiat had well understood this and recommended to favour individual freedom, which, if it does not have the immediate power that a government can have on one or the other topic, is superior in its ability to offer a consistent, strong and sustainable system of social organisation.