Frédéric Bastiat：Economic Sophisms, Excerpt 210

But if exchange does not possess a character which is peculiar to it,--if it is not governed by any natural law,--if, capriciously, it be sometimes useful and sometimes detrimental,--if it does not find its motive force in the good which it accomplishes, its limit in the good which it ceases to accomplish,--if its consequences cannot be estimated by those who effect exchanges;--in a word, if there be no absolute principles, then we must proceed to weigh, balance, and regulate transactions, we must equalize the conditions of labour, and try to find out the average rate of profits--a colossal task, well deserving the large emoluments and powerful influence awarded to those who undertake it.

Source： https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/44145
Locator：Excerpt 210 · Verified：2026-10-19 · Verification：Short excerpt

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