Jean-Baptiste Say on the Excessive Accumulation of Laws

“One malady to which political bodies are liable is the excessive accumulation of laws. Their number soon prevents the citizen from knowing what they are; and hence the need for lawyers. Some laws soon provide the means for eluding others; and hence comes chicanery. . . . Whenever legislation is too complicated [it] encourages fraud, by multiplying the chances of evasion, and very rarely adds to the solidity of title or of right. The only advantage is the greater frequency and duration of suits.” — Jean-Baptiste Say (1803) [Hat Tip: Intermarket Forecasting]