"[W]henever the Legislators endeavor to take away, and destroy the Property of the People, or to reduce them to Slavery under Arbitrary Power, they put themselves into a state of War with the People, who are thereupon absolved from any farther Obedience, and are left to the common Refuge, which God hath provided for all Men, against Force and Violence. Whensoever therefore the Legislative shall transgress this fundamental Rule of Society; and either by Ambition, Fear, Folly or Corruption, endeavor to grasp themselves, or put into the hands of any other an Absolute Power over the Lives, Liberties, and Estates of the People; By this breach of Trust they forfeit the Power, the People had put into their hands, for quite contrary ends, and it devolves to the people, who have a Right to resume their original Liberty." | Quote by: | John Locke
(1632-1704) English philosopher and political theorist |
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Corruption quotes, Individual Rights quotes, Injustice quotes, Integrity quotes, Obedience quotes, Power quotes, Resistance quotes, Self-Determination quotes, Slavery quotes, Transgression quotes, Trust quotes, Tyranny quotes, War quotes | |
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