What, Then Is Law [government]? It Is

When Under The Pretext Of Fraternity, The Legal Code Imposes Mutual Sacrifices On The Citizens, Human Nature Is Not Thereby Abrogated. Everyone Will Then Direct His Efforts Toward Contributing Little To, And Taking Much From, The Common Fund Of Sacrifices. Now, Is It The Most Unfortunate Who Gains From This Struggle? Certainly Not, But Rather The Most Influential And Calculating.

In Short, Is Not Liberty The Freedom Of Every Person To Make Full Use Of His Faculties, So Long As He Does Not Harm Other Persons While Doing So?

Each Of Us Has A Natural Right, From God, To Defend His Person, His Liberty, And His Property.

It Must Be Admitted That The Tendency Of The Human Race Toward Liberty Is Largely Thwarted, Especially In France. This Is Greatly Due To A Fatal Desire-learned From The Teachings Of Antiquity-that Our Writers On Public Affairs Have In Common: They Desire To Set Themselves Above Mankind In Order To Arrange, Organize, And Regulate It According To Their Fancy.

Either Fraternity Is Spontaneous, Or It Does Not Exist. To Decree It Is To Annihilate It. The Law Can Indeed Force Men To Remain Just; In Vain Would It Try To Force Them To Be Self-sacrificing.