Jean-Jacques Rousseau · Complete work
Book I, Chapter 3
Book I, Chapter 3 of 49. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
Open the complete readerOriginal French
Du droit du plus fort.
Le plus fort n’est jamais assez fort pour être toujours le maitre, s’il ne transforme sa force en droit & l’obéïssance en devoir. De-là le droit du plus fort; droit pris ironiquement en apparence, & réellement établi en principe: Mais ne nous expliquera-t-on jamais ce mot? La force est une puissance phisique; je ne vois point quelle moralité peut résulter de ses effets. Céder à la force est un acte de nécessité, non de volonté; c’est tout au plus un acte de prudence. En quel sens pourra-ce être un devoir?
Supposons un moment ce prétendu droit. Je dis qu’il n’en résulte qu’un galimathias inexplicable. Car sitôt que c’est la force qui fait le droit, l’effet change avec la cause; toute force qui surmonte la premiere succéde à son droit. Sitôt qu’on peut désobéir impunément on le peut légitimement, & puisque le plus fort a toujours raison, il ne s’agit que de faire en sorte qu’on soit le plus fort. Or qu’est-ce qu’un droit qui périt quand la force cesse? S’il faut obéir par force on n’a pas besoin d’obéir par devoir, & si l’on n’est plus forcé d’obéir on n’y est plus obligé. On voit donc que ce mot de droit n’ajoûte rien à la force; il ne signifie ici rien du tout.
Obeissez aux puissances. Si cela veut dire, cédez à la force, le précepte est bon mais superflu, je réponds qu’il ne sera jamais violé. Toute puissance vient de Dieu, je l’avoüe; mais toute maladie en vient aussi. Est-ce à dire qu’il soit défendu d’appeller le médecin? Qu’un brigand me surprenne au coin d’un bois: non seulement il faut par force donner la bourse, mais quand je pourrois la soustraire suis-je en conscience obligé de la donner? car enfin le pistolet qu’il tient est aussi une puissance.
Convenons donc que force ne fait pas droit, & qu’on n’est obligé d’obéir qu’aux puissances légitimes. Ainsi ma question primitive revient toujours.
Musean translation
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the complete French text of the 1762 edition, all four books and the appendix for fidelity, the author’s force and cadence, and modern clarity.
Of the Right of the Strongest.
The strongest is never strong enough to remain master forever unless he turns his strength into right and obedience into duty. Hence the right of the strongest: apparently an ironic expression, yet actually established as a principle. But will no one ever explain this word to us? Force is a physical power; I cannot see what moral quality can arise from its effects. To yield to force is an act of necessity, not of will; at most it is an act of prudence. In what sense could it be a duty?
Let us suppose for a moment that this alleged right exists. I say that nothing follows but an inexplicable jumble. For as soon as force makes right, the effect changes with the cause: every 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 question is how to become the strongest. Now what sort of right perishes when force ceases? If one must obey under compulsion, there is no need to obey out of duty; and if one is no longer forced to obey, one is no longer obliged. Clearly, then, this word right adds nothing to force; here it means nothing at all.
Obey the powers. If this means, yield to force, the precept is sound but superfluous; I answer that it will never be violated. All power comes from God, I admit; but so does every illness. Does that mean it is forbidden to call a doctor? Suppose a robber surprises me at the edge of a wood: not only must I hand over my purse under compulsion, but if I could hide it, would I be bound in conscience to give it to him? For the pistol he holds is also a power.
Let us agree, then, that force does not make right, and that we are obliged to obey only legitimate powers. Thus my original question always returns.
Plain English translation
Mouseia’s complete Plain English edition, made independently and directly from the complete French text of the 1762 edition, all four books and the appendix.
On the Right of the Strongest.
The strongest person is never strong enough to remain master forever unless he turns his strength into a right and obedience into a duty. That is where the right of the strongest comes from. It sounds like a joke, yet people actually make it a principle. But will no one ever explain what this phrase means? Force is physical power. I do not see how its effects can create a moral obligation. Giving in to force is a necessity, not a choice. At most it is sensible. How can it be a duty?
Let us accept this supposed right for a moment. I say it leads only to hopeless nonsense. For as soon as force makes right, the result changes with the cause. Any force that overcomes the first inherits its right. As soon as people can disobey without being punished, they can disobey legitimately. And since the strongest is always right, all one needs to do is become the strongest. But what sort of right disappears when the force behind it ends? If one must obey because of force, one need not obey out of duty. And if one is no longer forced to obey, one is no longer obliged to obey. So the word right adds nothing to force; here it means nothing at all.
Obey the powers that be. If that means give in to force, it is good advice but unnecessary: no one will ever break that rule. All power comes from God, I admit. But so does every disease. Does that mean it is forbidden to call the doctor? Suppose a robber catches me at the edge of a wood. I must hand over my purse because he forces me to. But if I could hide it, would my conscience oblige me to hand it over? The pistol he holds is also a form of power, after all.
Let us agree, then, that force creates no right and that we are obliged to obey only legitimate powers. So my original question still stands.