登陆注册
5155300000030

第30章

(20:58) If formal assent is not to be esteemed above conviction, and if governments are to retain a firm hold of authority and not be compelled to yield to agitators, it is imperative that freedom of judgment should be granted, so that men may live together in harmony, however diverse, or even openly contradictory their opinions may be. (59) We cannot doubt that such is the best system of government and open to the fewest objections, since it is the one most in harmony with human nature. (60) In a democracy (the most natural form of government, as we have shown in Chapter XVI.) everyone submits to the control of authority over his actions, but not over his judgment and reason; that is, seeing that all cannot think alike, the voice of the majority has the force of law, subject to repeal if circumstances bring about a change of opinion. (61) In proportion as the power of free judgment is withheld we depart from the natural condition of mankind, and consequently the government becomes more tyrannical.

[20:4] (62) In order to prove that from such freedom no inconvenience arises, which cannot easily be checked by the exercise of the sovereign power, and that men's actions can easily be kept in bounds, though their opinions be at open variance, it will be well to cite an example. (63) Suchan one is not very, far to seek. (64) The city of Amsterdam reaps the fruit of this freedom in its own great prosperity and in the admiration of all other people. (65) For in this most flourishing state, and most splendid city, men of every, nation and religion live together in the greatest harmony, and ask no questions before trusting their goods to a fellow- citizen, save whether he be rich or poor, and whether he generally acts honestly, or the reverse. (66) His religion and sect is considered of no importance: for it has no effect before the judges in gaining or losing a cause, and there is no sect so despised that its followers, provided that they harm no one, pay every man his due, and live uprightly, are deprived of the protection of the magisterial authority.

(20:67) On the other hand, when the religious controversy between Remonstrants and Counter-Remonstrants began to be taken up by politicians and the States, it grew into a schism, and abundantly showed that laws dealing with religion and seeking to settle its controversies are much more calculated to irritate than to reform, and that they give rise to extreme licence: further, it was seen that schisms do not originate in a love of truth, which is a source of courtesy and gentleness, but rather in an inordinate desire for supremacy, (68) From all these considerations it is clearer than the sun at noonday, that the true schismatics are those who condemn other men's writings, and seditiously stir up the quarrelsome masses against their authors, rather than those authors themselves, who generally write only for the learned, and appeal solely to reason. (69) In fact, the real disturbers of the peace are those who, in a free state, seek to curtail the liberty of judgment which they are unable to tyrannize over.

(20:70) I have thus shown:-

(71)I. That it is impossible to deprive men of the liberty of saying what they think.

(72)II. That such liberty can be conceded to every man without injury to the rights and authority of the sovereign power, and that every man may retain it without injury to such rights, provided that he does not presume upon it to the extent of introducing any new rights into the state, or acting in any way contrary, to the existing laws.

(20:73) III. That every man may enjoy this liberty without detriment tothe public peace, and that no inconveniences arise therefrom which cannot easily be checked.

(74)IV. That every man may enjoy it without injury to his allegiance.

(75)V. That laws dealing with speculative problems are entirely useless.

(76)VI. Lastly, that not only may such liberty be granted without prejudice to the public peace, to loyalty, and to the rights of rulers, but that it is even necessary, for their preservation. (77) For when people try to take it away, and bring to trial, not only the acts which alone are capable of offending, but also the opinions of mankind, they only succeed in surrounding their victims with an appearance of martyrdom, and raise feelings of pity and revenge rather than of terror. (78) Uprightness and good faith are thus corrupted, flatterers and traitors are encouraged, and sectarians triumph, inasmuch as concessions have been made to their animosity, and they have gained the state sanction for the doctrines of which they are the interpreters. (79) Hence they arrogate to themselves the state authority and rights, and do not scruple to assert that they have been directly chosen by God, and that their laws are Divine, whereas the laws of the state are human, and should therefore yield obedience to the laws of God - in other words, to their own laws. (80) Everyone must see that this is not a state of affairs conducive to public welfare. (81) Wherefore, as we have shown in Chapter XVIII., the safest way for a state is to lay down the rule that religion is comprised solely in the exercise of charity and justice, and that the rights of rulers in sacred, no less than in secular matters, should merely have to do with actions, but that every man should think what he likes and say what he thinks.

(20:82) I have thus fulfilled the task I set myself in this treatise. [20:5]

(83)It remains only to call attention to the fact that I have written nothing which I do not most willingly submit to the examination and approval of my country's rulers; and that I am willing to retract anything which they shall decide to be repugnant to the laws, or prejudicial to the public good.

(84)I know that I am a man, and as a man liable to error, but against error I have taken scrupulous care, and have striven to keep in entire accordance with the laws of my country, with loyalty, and with morality.

End of Part 4 of 4.

同类推荐
  • 和友人新居园上

    和友人新居园上

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 妇科玉尺

    妇科玉尺

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说遗日摩尼宝经

    佛说遗日摩尼宝经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说圣观自在菩萨梵赞

    佛说圣观自在菩萨梵赞

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 法华玄赞义决

    法华玄赞义决

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 爱上调皮妃

    爱上调皮妃

    是王爷怎么了?是王爷就可以这么厚脸皮吗?给了休书还带往回偷的!不就是骗了他一张休书吗?却被抓成把柄,被胁迫留在他身边,既然你要来阴的,就休要怪本姑娘来狠的!说她对他不屑一顾,哼,她就要对他不理不睬,除非他先承认爱上了她!
  • 爱你如初见,相逢何亦欢

    爱你如初见,相逢何亦欢

    他们青梅竹马,两小无猜。他是高高在上的冷氏集团总裁,而她只是一个孤儿,他宠她上天入地,还高调向她求婚,全城皆知。她答应后却莫名其妙不辞而别,让他成为江城最大的笑话。他无法接受,疯了一样四处找她,恨不得把地球翻个遍。一个大活人好像人间蒸发了一样,从此再无音信。三年后,她回来了。以为江城这么大,不会那么轻易遇到他。可是下飞机才一个小时,就和他撞了个正着。世界太小,面对他,她心里除了愧疚还是愧疚。
  • 符文法师

    符文法师

    一觉醒来发现自己穿越到魔法世界,这算什么情况?魔法师穿着合金装备跟人打架!等等……不应该是穿着法师长袍吗?还有,魔法世界居然还有人工智能、虚拟现实技术、增强现实技术,这都什么玩意!这到底是魔法世界,还是科幻世界……魔法和高科技凑合在一块,这是要搞事吗?(新书《英雄联盟疾风传》已发布!欢迎大家前来品读!)
  • 青春偶像剧:霸道阔少追爱记

    青春偶像剧:霸道阔少追爱记

    花想容没想到,他就是宋小飞。花想容更没想到,原来宋小飞,是长得这么好,英俊得如传说中的罗马王子,帅气得如日本漫画书走出来的男主角。但这宋小飞,居然是这么的蛮横,这么的无理。
  • 赠别前蔚州契苾使君

    赠别前蔚州契苾使君

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 怕羞的木头

    怕羞的木头

    赵小穗怕过白天。白天的课太少,研究生嘛,一周也就那么几节,导师讲完课,列出必读的书目和要求思考研究的几个问题,将备课簿和书本往手提包里一划拉,便匆匆地走了。剩下的时间就是学生自己在宿舍或去图书馆读书思考。但赵小穗怕的正是大白天回自己的寝室。有那么两次,开锁推门,见李韵床上的帷帘密密地罩合着,那张本来挺结实的双层铁床竟像颠簸在崎岖山路上的旧式大客车,嘎吱嘎吱地摇,帷帘里还传出压抑着的呻吟和喘息声。
  • 飞剑问道

    飞剑问道

    番茄继《吞噬星空》《莽荒纪》《雪鹰领主》后的第九本小说。————在这个世界,有狐仙、河神、水怪、大妖,也有求长生的修行者。修行者们,开法眼,可看妖魔鬼怪。炼一口飞剑,可千里杀敌。千里眼、顺风耳,更可探查四方。……秦府二公子‘秦云’,便是一位修行者……
  • 不死修罗道

    不死修罗道

    不死的火焰,不灭的意志,不毁的身躯。纵然前方坎坷难行,我亦向前不回头。只因我是不死修罗。我要成就修罗之身,我要横扫无尽深渊,我要摆脱预言的灾乱。我要成就巅峰。
  • 秦苏志

    秦苏志

    甄情为了解除秦苏小的禁制,亲手献上自己的心血,请求楚意为她医治。国师佚文为挽救凤元,过度窥探天命而化作婴儿完成返璞归真.......逝去的灵魂将被人铭记,活着的将会带着逝者的希望努力生活,而秦苏小等人的故事,仍在继续.......
  • 成神

    成神

    终我一生,宠你至死!哪怕你永远不会原谅我,不会爱我,我都愿意……宠你至死!从最低处爬起,一步一步,站到她心中的神坛之上,站到他的身边!