Frédéric Bastiat：Economic Sophisms, Excerpt 302

If public opinion is sovereign, even in the region of Force, it is very much more so in the region of Craft [_Ruse_], In truth, this is its true domain. Cunning is the abuse of intelligence, and public opinion is the progress of intelligence. These two powers are at least of the same nature. Imposture on the part of the spoliator implies credulity on the part of those despoiled, and the natural antidote to credulity is truth. Hence it follows that to enlighten men's minds is to take away from this species of spoliation what supports and feeds it.

Source： https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/44145
Locator：Excerpt 302 · Verified：2026-10-19 · Verification：Short excerpt

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