Societyconsistedatfirstmerelyofafewgeneralconventions，whicheverymemberboundhimselftoobserve;andfortheperformanceofcovenantsthewholebodywentsecuritytoeachindividual。Experienceonlycouldshowtheweaknessofsuchaconstitution，andhoweasilyitmightbeinfringedwithimpunity，fromthedifficultyofconvictingmenoffaults，wherethepublicalonewastobewitnessandjudge：thelawscouldnotbutbeeludedinmanyways;disordersandinconveniencescouldnotbutmultiplycontinually，tillitbecamenecessarytocommitthedangeroustrustofpublicauthoritytoprivatepersons，andthecareofenforcingobediencetothedeliberationsofthepeopletothemagistrate。Fortosaythatchiefswerechosenbeforetheconfederacywasformed，andthattheadministratorsofthelawsweretherebeforethelawsthemselves，istooabsurdasuppositiontoconsiderseriously。
Itwouldbeasunreasonabletosupposethatmenatfirstthrewthemselvesirretrievablyandunconditionallyintothearmsofanabsolutemaster，andthatthefirstexpedientwhichproudandunsubduedmenhituponfortheircommonsecuritywastorunheadlongintoslavery。Forwhatreason，infact，didtheytaketothemselvessuperiors，ifitwasnotinorderthattheymightbedefendedfromoppression，andhaveprotectionfortheirlives，libertiesandproperties，whichare，sotospeak，theconstituentelementsoftheirbeing？Now，intherelationsbetweenmanandman，theworstthatcanhappenisforonetofindhimselfatthemercyofanother，anditwouldhavebeeninconsistentwithcommon-sensetobeginbybestowingonachieftheonlythingstheywantedhishelptopreserve。Whatequivalentcouldheofferthemforsogreataright？Andifhehadpresumedtoexactitunderpretextofdefendingthem，wouldhenothavereceivedtheanswerrecordedinthefable：\"Whatmorecantheenemydotous？\"Itisthereforebeyonddispute，andindeedthefundamentalmaximofallpoliticalright，thatpeoplehavesetupchiefstoprotecttheirliberty，andnottoenslavethem。Ifwehaveaprince，saidPlinytoTrajan，itistosaveourselvesfromhavingamaster。
Politiciansindulgeinthesamesophistryabouttheloveoflibertyasphilosophersaboutthestateofnature。Theyjudge，bywhattheysee，ofverydifferentthings，whichtheyhavenotseen;andattributetomananaturalpropensitytoservitude，becausetheslaveswithintheirobservationareseentobeartheyokewithpatience;theyfailtoreflectthatitiswithlibertyaswithinnocenceandvirtue;thevalueisknownonlytothosewhopossessthem，andthetasteforthemisforfeitedwhentheyareforfeitedthemselves。\"Iknowthecharmsofyourcountry，\"saidBrasidastoasatrap，whowascomparingthelifeatSpartawiththatatPersepolis，\"butyoucannotknowthepleasuresofmine。\"
Anunbrokenhorseerectshismane，pawsthegroundandstartsbackimpetuouslyatthesightofthebridle;whileonewhichisproperlytrainedsufferspatientlyevenwhipandspur：sosavagemanwillnotbendhisnecktotheyoketowhichcivilisedmansubmitswithoutamurmur，butprefersthemostturbulentstateoflibertytothemostpeacefulslavery。Wecannottherefore，fromtheservilityofnationsalreadyenslaved，judgeofthenaturaldispositionofmankindfororagainstslavery;weshouldgobytheprodigiouseffortsofeveryfreepeopletosaveitselffromoppression。Iknowthattheformerareforeverholdingforthinpraiseofthetranquillitytheyenjoyintheirchains，andthattheycallastateofwretchedservitudeastateofpeace：miserrimamservitutempacemappellant。6ButwhenIobservethelattersacrificingpleasure，peace，wealth，powerandlifeitselftothepreservationofthatonetreasure，whichissodisdainedbythosewhohavelostit;whenIseefree-bornanimalsdashtheirbrainsoutagainstthebarsoftheircage，fromaninnateimpatienceofcaptivity;
whenIbeholdnumbersofnakedsavages，thatdespiseEuropeanpleasures，bravinghunger，fire，theswordanddeath，topreservenothingbuttheirindependence，Ifeelthatitisnotforslavestoargueaboutliberty。