The state is the great fiction by which everyone endeavors to live at the expense of everyone else.

Frédéric Bastiat
Pamphlets
Section 2 of 4

Here is probably the most famous quote from Frédéric Bastiat. After describing the demands from the people to the state, Bastiat accuses us all, without exception, to look for a way of benefitting from others work through the agency of the state, which allows to avoid the corresponding costs (the other way being obviously trade, which requests an effort to be made for  other people in order to benefit from theirs).

The definition he sets upon further to his observations may be restrictive but is spot on nonetheless, and it is our own duty to refuse to feed this greedy monster as much as possible. Let’s not fool ourselves, looking for subsidies is for the ethically challenged but benefit from them is not completely innocent either.

Other quotes from The State:
Section 1 of 4 – Section 3 of 4 – Section 4 of 4