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by right but in fact and even unjustly if I had large possessions；
for； 〃every man has naturally a right to whatever he needs；〃 and I
have robbed other men of all that I possessed beyond my subsistence。
Hence； so far from the State being under obligation to me； I am under
obligation to it； the property which it returns to me not being mine
but that with which the State favors me。 It follows； accordingly； that
the State may impose conditions on its gift； limit the use I may make
of it； according to its fancy； restrict and regulate my disposition of
it； my right to bequeath it。 〃According to nature；＇22＇ the right of
property does not extend beyond the life of its owner； the moment he
dies his possessions are no longer his own。 Thus； to prescribe the
conditions on which he may dispose of it is really less to change his
right in appearance than to extend it in effect。〃 In any event as my
title is an effect of the social contract it is precarious like the
contract itself； a new stipulation suffices to limit it or to destroy
it。 〃The sovereign＇23＇ may legitimately appropriate to himself all
property； as was done in Sparta in the time of Lycurgus。〃 In our lay
convent whatever each monk possesses is only a revocable gift by the
convent。
In the second place； this convent is a seminary。 I have no right to
bring up my children in my own house and in my own way。
〃As the reason of each man＇24＇ must not be the sole arbiter of his
rights； so much less should the education of children； which is of
more consequence to the State than to fathers； be left to the
intelligence and prejudice of their fathers。〃 〃If public authority； by
taking the place of fathers； by assuming this important function； then
acquires their rights through fulfilling their duties； they have so
much the less reason to complain inasmuch as they merely undergo a
change of name； and； under the title of citizens； exercise in common
the same authority over their children that they have separately
exercised under the title of fathers。〃
In other words you cease to be a father； but； in exchange； become a
school inspector； one is as good as the other； and what complaint have
you to make？ Such was the case in that perpetual army called Sparta；
there； the children； genuine regimental children； equally obeyed all
properly formed men。
〃Thus public education； within laws prescribed by the government
and under magistrates appointed by sovereign will； is one of the
fundamental maxims of popular or legitimate government。〃
Through this the citizen is formed in Advance。
〃The government gives the national form to souls。＇25＇ Nations； in
the long run； are what the government makes them … soldiers； citizens；
men when so disposed； a populace； canaille if it pleases；〃 being
fashioned by their education。 〃Would you obtain an idea of public
education？ Read Plato's 'Republic。'＇26＇。。。。 The best social
institutions are those the best qualified to change man's nature； to
destroy his absolute being； to give him a relative being； and to
convert self into the common unity； so that each individual may not
regard himself as one by himself； but a part of the unity； and no
longer sensitive but through the whole。 An infant； on opening its
eyes； must behold the common patrimony and； to the day of its death；
behold that only。。。。 He should be disciplined so as never to
contemplate the individual except in his relations with the body of
the State。〃
Such was the practice of Sparta； and the sole aim of the 〃great
Lycurgus。〃…
〃All being equal through the law； they must be brought up together
and in the same manner。〃 〃The law must regulate the subjects； the
order and the form of their studies。〃 They must； at the very least；
take part in public exercises； in horse…races； in the games of
strength and of agility instituted 〃to accustom them to law； equality；
fraternity； and competition；〃 to teach them how 〃to live under the
eyes of their fellow…citizens and to crave public applause。〃
Through these games they become democrats from their early youth；
since； the prizes being awarded； not through the arbitrariness of
masters； but through the cheers of spectators； they accustom
themselves to recognizing as sovereign the legitimate sovereignty；
consisting of the verdict of the assembled people。 The foremost
interest of the State is； always； to form the wills of those by which
it lasts； to prepare the votes that are to maintain it； to uproot
passions in the soul that might be opposed to it； to implant passions
that will prove favorable to it； to fix firmly with the breasts of its
future citizens the sentiments and prejudices it will at some time
need。＇27＇ If it does not secure the children it will not possess the
adults； Novices in a convent must be as monks； otherwise； when they
grow up； the convent will no longer exist。
Finally； our lay convent has its own religion； a lay religion。 If I
possess any other it is through its condescension and under
restrictions。 It is； by nature； hostile to other associations than its
own； they are rivals； they annoy it； they absorb the will and pervert
the votes of its members。
〃To ensure a full declaration of the general will it is an
important matter not to allow any special society in the State； and
that each citizen should pronounce according to it alone。〃＇28＇
〃Whatever breaks up social unity is worthless；〃 and it would be better
for the State if there were no Church。 …
Not only is every church suspicious but； if I am a Christian； my
belief is regarded unfavorably。 According to this new legislator
〃nothing is more opposed to the social spirits than Christianity。 。 。
。 A society of true Christians would no longer form a society of men。〃
For； 〃the Christian patrimony is not of this world。〃 It cannot
zealously serve the State； being bound by its conscience to support
tyrants。 Its law 〃preaches only servitude and dependence。 。 。 it is
made for a slave；〃 and never will a citizen be made out of a slave。
〃Christian Republic； each of these two words excludes the other。〃
Therefore； if the future Republic assents to my profession of
Christianity； it is on the understood condition that my doctrine shall
be shut up in my mind； without even affecting my heart。 If I am a
Catholic； （and twenty…five out of twenty…six million Frenchmen are
like me）； my condition is worse。 For the social pact does not tolerate
an intolerant religion； any sect that condemns other sects is a public
enemy； 〃whoever presumes to say that there is no salvation outside the
church； must be driven out of the State。〃
Should I be； finally； a free…thinker； a positivist or skeptic； my
situation is little better。
〃There is a civil religion；〃 a catechism； 〃a profession of faith；
of which the sovereign has the right to dictate the articles； not
exactly as religious dogmas but as sentiments of social import without
which we cannot be a good citiz