
Two Enemies of the Enlightenment: 3 – Joseph de Maistre
Isaiah Berlin
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Man Is Born to Freedom, What Does His Mean?
The only laws which have lasted amongst mankind are laws whose roots and sources are not remembered. Only that custom is the foundation of our life. Custom and the dark, irrational sphere which nothing must be allowed to approach. Therefore, authority must be blind. Once yo allow people to argue about the basis of authority, once you allow people like lock to discuss things by contract, you are done for. The only governments which have vearly persisted and been solid are governments which do not permit discussion. Those are the governments which are, on the whole, the most stable. As soon as tey are given freedom, everything crumbles in popples.
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