From The Quotable Mises — surrounding passage

Human Action , p. 827; p. 831 Modern civilization is a product of the philosophy of laissez faire. It cannot be preserved under the ideology of government omnipotence. Human Action , p. 828; p. 832 Civilization is a product of leisure and the peace of mind that only the division of labour can make possible. Socialism , p. 271 For society is nothing but collaboration. Socialism , p. 281

“Civilization is a work of peaceful co-operation.”

Socialism , p. 291 Man is born an asocial and antisocial being. The newborn child is a savage. Egoism is his nature. Only the experience of life and the teachings of his parents, his brothers, sisters, playmates, and later of other people force him to acknowledge the advantages of social cooperation and accordingly to change his behavior. The savage thus turns toward civilization and citizenship. Omnipotent Government , p.