And therefore, whatever form the commonwealth is under, the ruling power ought to govern by declared and received laws, and not by extemporary dictates and undetermined resolutions: for then mankind will be in a far worse condition than in the state of nature, if they shall have armed one, or a few men with the joint power of a multitude, to force them to obey at pleasure the exorbitant and unlimited decrees of their sudden thoughts, or unrestrained, and till that moment unknown wills, without having any measures set down which may guide and justify their actions: for all the power the government has, being only for the good of the society, as it ought not to be arbitrary and at pleasure, so it ought to be exercised by established and promulgated laws;
Nork esan baitezake ehun mila pertsona gidatzen dituen gizaki horren borondatea beste pertsona batzuena baino hobea dela, ehun mila handiz indar gehiago badu ere. Hortaz, errepublikak daukan gobernu mota dena delakoa izanik ere, promulgatu eta onarturiko legeen bidez gobernatu behar dute agintariek, eta ez bat-batean asmatutako ediktuen eta erabaki zehaztugabeen bidez. Bestela, gizateria naturazko egoeran baino okerrago legoke, pertsona gutxi batzuei talde boteretsu oso baten indarra ematen baitzaio.