No man can delegate,... any right of arbitrary dominion…
“No man can delegate,... any right of arbitrary dominion over a 3rd person; for that would imply a right in the 1st person, not only to make the 3rd person his slave, but also a right to dispose of him as a slave to still other persons. Any contract to do this is necessarily a criminal one...To call such a contract a “constitution” does not at all lessen its criminality, or add to its validity.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote argues that any contract that gives one person power over another is inherently criminal, regardless of how it is labeled.
In simple terms: Contracts that enslave are criminal.
Key Takeaway
Reject such contracts.
Themes
rights
justice
slavery
law
ethics
Mood
critical
serious
Type
ethical
political
When to use this quote
- legal drafting
- human rights advocacy
- policy making
- education
- activism
Key Concepts
natural rights
contract law
criminality
Questions to Reflect On
- Is any agreement that strips another's autonomy ever just?
- How do we identify hidden coercion in legal language?
A Different Perspective
Even if called a constitution, the contract remains illegal.