The antitrust paradox.

Judge Learned Hand, 1872-1961

“[T]he great industrial consolidations are inherently undesirable, regardless of their economic results. ... Throughout the history of these [antitrust] statutes, it has been constantly assumed that one of their purposes was to perpetuate and preserve, for its own sake and in spite of possible cost, an organization of industry of small units which can effectively compete with each other.”
(U. S. v. Alcoa, 148 F.7.d. 416, 429, 1945.)