164. But since a rational creature cannot be supposed, when free, to put himself into subjection to another, for his own harm; (though, where he finds a good and wise ruler, he may not perhaps think it either necessary or useful to set precise bounds to his power in all things) prerogative can be nothing but the people's permitting their rulers to do several things, of their own free choice, where the law was silent, and sometimes too against the direct letter of the law, for the public good; and their acquiescing in it when so done:
164. Alabaina, ez da bidezkoa pentsatzea izaki arrazional eta libre batek beste baten mende jarriko duenik bere burua norbere kaltetan (gobernari on eta jakitun bat aurkituko balu, beharbada ez luke beharrezko kontsideratuko haren botereari arlo guztietarako muga zorrotzak jartzea). Prerrogatiba ondokoan datza: herriak bere gobernariei, legeak aurreikusten ez dituen arlotan, erabakiak hartzen utziko die, batzuetan legeak dioenaren aurka bada ere, guztion onerako den orotan eta gizartearen onespena jasoz gauzatzen denean.