The Social Contract

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an inexplicable gibberish. For as soon as it is force that creates right, the effect changes with the cause; any force that overcomes the first succeeds to its right. As soon as one can disobey with impunity, one can do so legitimately; and since the strongest is always right, the only thing to do is to ensure one is the strongest. Now, what kind of right is it that perishes when force ceases? If one must obey by force, there is no need to obey out of duty; and if one is no longer forced to obey, one is no longer obliged to do so. It is evident, then, that this word "right" adds nothing to force; it means absolutely nothing here.

OBEY the Powers. If this means yield to force, the precept is good, but superfluous; I answer that it will never be vio-