Quote: without mutual aid, when a man breaks a law, there is no security in any other man of his own defence but anticipation; men are equal in judgement and in fear

Quotation

1. ... In this estate of man therefore, wherein all men are equal, and every man allowed to be his own judge, the fears they have on of another are equal, and every man's hopes consist in his own sleight and strength: and consequently when any man by his natural passion, is provoked to break these laws of nature, there is no security in any other man of his own defence but anticipation. ... And therefore till there be security amongst men for the keeping of the law of nature one towards another, men are still in the estate of war, and nothing is unlawful to any man that tendeth to his own safety and commodity: and this safety and commodity consisteth in the mutual aid and help of one another, whereby also followeth the mutual fear of one another.   Google-1   Google-2

Published before 1923

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Topic: government (35 items)