1 824.] Declarations of 



all that is not contrary to tlie rights of 

 others: tlius the exercise of the natural 

 rights of every m;in, is limited only so 

 far as to ensure tlie enjoyment of tliese 

 same rifclits to the otlier members of so- 

 ciety. This limitation can only be dettr- 

 niined by the law. 



Liberty, then, has nature for its 

 jirinciple, justice for its rule, and tlie 

 law for its safeguard: its moral limit is 

 contained in this maxim, " Do unto 

 others as you would they should do unto 

 you." 



The preservation of liberty depends 

 on submission to the law, which is the 

 expression of the general will. 



The liberty of the press, and of every 

 other means of publisliing thoughts, can 

 neither be interdicted, suspended, nor 

 limited. 



The right of publishing a man's 

 thoughts and opinions, whether by 

 means of the press or in any other man- 

 ner, the right of peaceably assembling, 

 and the free exercise of trades, cannot 

 be forbidden. 



No man ought to be disturbed on ac- 

 count of his religious opinions. 



The free communication of his 

 thoughts and opinions is one of the most 

 precious rights of man; every citizen, 

 then, can speak, write, or print, freely, 

 except that he must answer for the 

 abuse of this liberty in cases determined 

 by the law. 



The necessity of declaring his rights 

 supposes either the existence or the 

 recent recollection of despotism. 



Liberty and equality of rights admit 

 no distinction of birth, no hereditary 

 authorities. 



All the citizens may pretend, and, if 

 chosen, are admissible, to all the public 

 places, employments, and duties. Free 

 people know no other motives of pre- 

 ference in their choice than talents and 

 virtues. 



As every citizen has an equal right to 

 defend his life, his honour, and his pro- 

 perty, no means of defence ought to be 

 granted to one exclusively of another. 



If men arc not equal in means, that is 

 to say, in riches, in understanding, and 

 in the various ])0wers of body and mind, 

 it does not follow that they are not 

 equal in natural and civil rights. 



Instruction being necessary to all, 

 society ought to favour, as far as lies in 

 its power, the progress of public educa- 

 tion, and render instruction attainable 

 l»y all the citizens. 



Safety consists in the protection 

 7 



Social Rights. 515 



granted by society to every citizen, for 

 the preservation of his person, of his pro- 

 perty, and of his rights. 



Safety results from the combination 

 of all, to ensure to every one his rights. 



No man ought to be called before a 

 court of justice, accused, arrested, or 

 imprisoned, except in cases determined 

 by the law, and according to the forms 

 which it has prescribed: every act 

 exercised otherwise towards a citizen is 

 arbitrary and null. 



Every act exercised against a man, 

 except in the cases, and with the forms, 

 which the law determines, is arbitrary 

 and tyrannical ; and he, against whom 

 they would execute it, has the right to 

 repel it by force. 



Since the law is equally binding to all 

 the citizens, it ought equally to punish 

 the guilty. 



The law ought to protect public and 

 individual liberty, against the oppression 

 of those in power. 



Every arbitrary or illegal order is 

 void. They who demand it, who sign 

 it, they who convey it, who execute it, 

 or cause it to be executed, are guilty : 

 all ought to be punished. 



The citizens against whom such 

 orders have been issued, have a right to 

 repel violence by violence ; but every 

 citizen called upon or seized in the 

 name of the law, ought immediately to 

 obey. He renders himself guilty by 

 resistance. 



Every man being presumed innocent 

 until he has been declared guilty, if it bo 

 indispensable to arrest him, any rigor 

 which was not necessary for tlic secu- 

 rity of his person ought to be severely 

 checked by the law. 



Any treatment, which aggravates the 

 punishment fixed by the law, is cri- 

 minal. 



Every citizen has a right to the most 

 impartial, exact, and prompt, justice, as 

 well with regard to his penson as to Lis 

 property. 



Every citizen has, moreover, a right 

 to the common advantages which may 

 spring from the social state. 



No kind of labour, of commerce or of 

 culture, can be forbidden to any man: 

 he may fabricate, sell, and transport, 

 every sort of production. 



No man ean be deprived of the least 

 portion of his property without his own 

 consent, except when the public wants, 

 legally and plainly ascertained, require 

 it; and on tlic condition of a just and 

 reasonable indenuiity. 



No 



