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tacit understanding equivalent to that which binds a child to its
parent； a believer to his church； and； on both sides； this mutual
understanding is clear and precise。 The state engages to look after
my security within and without； I engage to furnish the means for so
doing； which means consist of my respect and gratitude； my zeal as a
citizen； my services as a conscript； my contributions as a tax…payer；
in short； whatever is necessary for the maintenance of an army； a
navy； a diplomatic organization； civil and criminal courts； a militia
and police； central and local administrations； in short； a harmonious
set of organs of which my obedience and loyalty constitute the food；
the substance and the blood。 This loyalty and obedience； whatever I
am； whether rich or poor； Catholic； Protestant； Jew or free…thinker；
royalist or republican； individualist or socialist； upon my honor and
in my conscience I owe。 This because I have received the equivalent；
I am delighted that I am not vanquished； assassinated； or robbed。 I
reimburse the State； exactly but not more that which it has spent on
equipment and personnel for keeping down brutal cupidity； greedy
appetites； deadly fanaticism； the entire howling pack of passions and
desires of which； sooner or later； I might become the prey； were it
not constantly to extend over me its vigilant protection。 When it
demands its outlay of me it is not my property which it takes away；
but its own property； which it collects and； in this light； it may
legitimately force me to pay。 … On condition； however； that it does
not exact more than my liabilities； and this it does when it oversteps
its original engagements；
1。 when it undertakes some extra material or moral work that I do not
ask for；
2。 when it constitutes itself sectarian； moralist； philanthropist； or
pedagogue；
3。 when it strives to propagate within its borders； or outside of
them； any religious or philosophic dogma； or any special political or
social system。
For then； it adds a new article to the primitive pact； for which
article there is not the same unanimous and assured assent that
existed for the pact。 We are all willing to be secured against
violence and fraud； outside of this； and on almost any other point；
there are divergent wills。 I have my own religion； my own opinions；
my habits； my customs； my peculiar views of life and way of regarding
the universe； now； this is just what constitutes my personality； what
honor and conscience forbid me to alienate； and which the State has
promised me to protect。 Consequently； when； through its additional
article； it attempts to regulate these in a certain way； if that way
is not my way； it fails to fulfill its primordial engagement and；
instead of protecting me； it oppresses me。 Even if it should have the
support of a majority； even if all voters； less one； should agree to
entrusting it with this supererogatory function； were there only one
dissenter； he would be wronged； and in two ways。 …
First of all； and in any event； the State； to fulfill its new tasks；
exacts from him an extra amount of subsidy and service； for； every
supplementary work brings along with it supplementary expenses； the
budget is overburdened when the State takes upon itself the procuring
of work for laborers or employment for artists； the maintenance of any
particular industrial or commercial enterprise； the giving of alms；
and the furnishing of education。 To an expenditure of money add an
expenditure of lives； should it enter upon a war of generosity or of
propaganda。 Now； to all these expenditures that it does not approve
of； the minority contributes as well as the majority which does
approve of them； so much the worse for the conscript and the tax…payer
if they belong to the dissatisfied group。 Like it or not； the
collector puts his hand in the tax…payer's pocket； and the sergeant
lays his hand on the conscript's collar。 …
In the second place； and in many circumstances； not only does the
State unjustly take more than its due； but it uses the money it has
extorted from me to apply unjustly new constraints against me。 Such
is the case；
* when it imposes on me its theology or philosophy；
* when it prescribes for me； or interdicts； a cult；
* when it assumes to regulate my ways and habits；
* when it assumes to limit my labor or expenditure；
* when it assumes to direct the education of my children；
* when it assumes to fix the prices of my wares or the rate of my
wages。
For then； to enforce its commands and prohibitions； it enacts light or
serious penalties against the recalcitrant； all the way from political
or civil incapacity to fines； imprisonment； exile and the guillotine。
In other words； the money I do not owe it； and of which it robs me；
pays for the persecution which it inflicts upon me； I am reduced to
paying out of my own purse the wages of my inquisitors； my jailer and
my executioner。 A more glaring oppression could not be imagined！ …
Let us watch out for the encroachments of the State and not allow it
to become anything more than a watch…dog。 Whilst the teeth and nails
of other guests in the household have been losing their sharpness； its
fangs have become formidable； it is now colossal and it alone still
keeps up the practice of fighting。 Let us supply it with nourishment
against wolves； but never let it touch peaceable folks around the
table。 Appetite grows by eating； it would soon become a wolf itself；
and the most ravenous wolf inside the fold。 The important thing is to
keep a chain around its neck and confine it within its own enclosure。
IV。
The state is tempted to encroach。 … Precedents and reasons for its
pretensions。
Let us go around the fold； which is an extensive one； and； through its
extensions； reach into almost every nook of private life。 … Each
private domain； indeed； physical or moral； offers temptations for its
neighbors to trespass on it； and； to keep this intact； demands the
superior intervention of a third party。 To acquire； to possess； to
sell； to give； to bequeath； to contract between husband and wife；
father； mother or child； between master or domestic； employer or
employee； each act and each situation； involves rights limited by
contiguous and adverse rights； and it is the State which sets up the
boundary between them。 Not that it creates this boundary； but； that
this may be recognized； it draws the line and therefore enacts civil
laws which it applies through its courts and gendarmes in such a way
as to secure to each individual what belongs to him。 The State
stands； accordingly； as regulator and controller； not alone of private
possessions； but also of the family and of domestic life； its
authority is thus legitimately introduced into that reserved circle in
which the individual will has entrenched itself； and； as is the habit
of all great powers； once the circle is invaded； its tendency is to
occupy it fully and entirely。 … To this end； it invokes a new
principle。 Constituted as a moral personality； the same as a church；
university； or charitable or scientific body； is not the State bound；
like every corporate body that is to last for ages； to extend its
vision far and near and prefer to private interests； which are only
life…interests； the common interest （l'intérêt commun） which is
eternal？ Is not this the superior end to which all others should be
subordinated； and must this interest； which is supreme over all； be
sacrificed to two troublesome instincts which are often unreasonable
and sometimes dangerous； to conscience； which overflows in mystic
madness； and to honor； which may lead to strife even to murderous
duels？ … Certainly not； and first of all when； in its grandest works；
the State； as legislator； regulates marriages； inheritances； and
testaments； then it is not respect for the will of individuals which
solely guides it； it does not content itself with obliging everybody
to pay his debts； including even those which are tacit； involuntary
and innate； it takes into account the public interest； it calculates
remote probabilities； future contingencies； all results singly and
collectively。 Manifestly； in allowing or forbidding divorce； in
extending or restricting what a man may dispose of by testament； in
favoring or interdicting substitutions； it is chiefly in view of some
political； economical or social advantage； either to refine or
consolidate the union of the sexes； to implant in the family habits of
discipline or sentiments of affection； to excite in children an
initiatory spirit； or one of concord； to prepare for the nation a
staff of natural chieftains； or an army of small proprietors； and
always authorized by the universal assent。 Moreover； and always with
this universal assent； it does other things outside the task
originally assigned to it； and nobody finds that it usurps when；
* it coins money；
* it regula