"The state is the great fictitious entity by which everyone seeks to live at the expense of everyone else"

This quote by Frederic Bastiat is a criticism of the state and its role in society. He is suggesting that the state is a fictitious entity, implying it is not a real thing, but rather an idea developed by people. He thinks that the state is utilized by individuals to try and acquire a benefit over others, frequently at the cost of others. He is recommending that the state is utilized as a tool to control and make use of people, and that it is not a helpful force in society. He believes that the state is used to create an unequal playing field, where some people have the ability to gain a benefit over others. He is likewise recommending that the state is used to create a false sense of security, where individuals feel that they are safe and protected, when in truth they are not. He is warning individuals to be knowledgeable about the power of the state and to be wary of its prospective to be used for ill.