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absolutely best for them； and had been less kindness； to have
slackened。 This is that power to which children are commanded
obedience； that the pains and care of their parents may not be
increased or ill…rewarded。
68。 On the other side； honour and support all that which gratitude
requires to return； for the benefits received by and from them is
the indispensable duty of the child and the proper privilege of the
parents。 This is intended for the parents' advantage； as the other
is for the child's； though education； the parents' duty； seems to have
most power； because the ignorance and infirmities of childhood stand
in need of restraint and correction； which is a visible exercise of
rule and a kind of dominion。 And that duty which is comprehended in
the word 〃honour〃 requires less obedience； though the obligation be
stronger on grown than younger children。 For who can think the
command； 〃Children； obey your parents；〃 requires in a man that has
children of his own the same submission to his father as it does in
his yet young children to him； and that by this precept he were
bound to obey all his father's commands； if； out of a conceit of
authority； he should have the indiscretion to treat him still as a
boy？
69。 The first part； then； of paternal power； or rather duty； which
is education； belongs so to the father that it terminates at a certain
season。 When the business of education is over it ceases of itself；
and is also alienable before。 For a man may put the tuition of his son
in other hands； and he that has made his son an apprentice to
another has discharged him； during that time； of a great part of his
obedience； both to himself and to his mother。 But all the duty of
honour； the other part； remains nevertheless entire to them； nothing
can cancel that。 It is so inseparable from them both； that the
father's authority cannot dispossess the mother of this right； nor can
any man discharge his son from honouring her that bore him。 But both
these are very far from a power to make laws； and enforcing them
with penalties that may reach estate； liberty； limbs； and life。 The
power of commanding ends with nonage； and though after that honour and
respect； support and defence； and whatsoever gratitude can oblige a
man to； for the highest benefits he is naturally capable of be
always due from a son to his parents； yet all this puts no sceptre
into the father's hand； no sovereign power of commanding。 He has no
dominion over his son's property or actions； nor any right that his
will should prescribe to his son's in all things； however； it may
become his son in many things； not very inconvenient to him and his
family； to pay a deference to it。
70。 A man may owe honour and respect to an ancient or wise man；
defence to his child or friend； relief and support to the
distressed； and gratitude to a benefactor； to such a degree that all
he has； all he can do； cannot sufficiently pay it。 But all these
give no authority； no right of making laws to any one over him from
whom they are owing。 And it is plain all this is due； not to the
bare title of father； not only because as has been said； it is owing
to the mother too； but because these obligations to parents； and the
degrees of what is required of children； may be varied by the
different care and kindness trouble and expense； is often employed
upon one child more than another。
71。 This shows the reason how it comes to pass that parents in
societies； where they themselves are subjects； retain a power over
their children and have as much right to their subjection as those who
are in the state of Nature； which could not possibly be if all
political power were only paternal； and that； in truth； they were
one and the same thing； for then； all paternal power being in the
prince； the subject could naturally have none of it。 But these two
powers； political and paternal； are so perfectly distinct and
separate； and built upon so different foundations； and given to so
different ends； that every subject that is a father has as much a
paternal power over his children as the prince has over his。 And every
prince that has parents owes them as much filial duty and obedience as
the meanest of his subjects do to theirs； and can therefore contain
not any part or degree of that kind of dominion which a prince or
magistrate has over his subject。
72。 Though the obligation on the parents to bring up their children；
and the obligation on children to honour their parents； contain all
the power； on the one hand； and submission on the other； which are
proper to this relation； yet there is another power ordinarily in
the father； whereby he has a tie on the obedience of his children；
which； though it be common to him with other men； yet the occasions of
showing it； almost constantly happening to fathers in their private
families and in instances of it elsewhere being rare； and less taken
notice of； it passes in the world for a part of 〃paternal
jurisdiction。〃 And this is the power men generally have to bestow
their estates on those who please them best。 The possession of the
father being the expectation and inheritance of the children
ordinarily； in certain proportions； according to the law and custom of
each country； yet it is commonly in the father's power to bestow it
with a more sparing or liberal hand； according as the behaviour of
this or that child hath comported with his will and humour。
73。 This is no small tie to the obedience of children； and there
being always annexed to the enjoyment of land a submission to the
government of the country of which that land is a part； it has been
commonly supposed that a father could oblige his posterity to that
government of which he himself was a subject； that his compact held
them； whereas； it being only a necessary condition annexed to the land
which is under that government； reaches only those who will take it on
that condition； and so is no natural tie or engagement； but a
voluntary submission； for every man's children being； by Nature； as
free as himself or any of his ancestors ever were； may； whilst they
are in that freedom； choose what society they will join themselves to；
what commonwealth they will put themselves under。 But if they will
enjoy the inheritance of their ancestors； they must take it on the
same terms their ancestors had it； and submit to all the conditions
annexed to such a possession。 By this power； indeed； fathers oblige
their children to obedience to themselves even when they are past
minority； and most commonly； too； subject them to this or that
political power。 But neither of these by any peculiar right of
fatherhood； but by the reward they have in their hands to enforce
and recompense such a compliance； and is no more power than what a
Frenchman has over an Englishman； who； by the hopes of an estate he
will leave him； will certainly have a strong tie on his obedience； and
if when it is left him； he will enjoy it； he must certainly take it
upon the conditions annexed to the possession of land in that
country where it lies； whether it