Common Consent Quotes

Laws made by common consent must not be trampled on by individuals.

That which touches all should be approved by all. Quod omnes tangit, debet ab omnibus approbari.

The voice of the people hath some divineness in it, else how should so many men agree to be of one mind?

When all moves equally (says Pascal), nothing seems to move as in a vessel under sail; and when all run by common consent into vice, none appear to do so. He that stops first, views as from a fixed point the horrible extravagance that transports the rest.

Were the judgments of mankind correct, custom would be regulated by the good. But it is often far otherwise in point of fact; for, whatever the many are seen to do, forthwith obtains the force of custom. But human affairs have scarcely ever been so happily constituted as that the better course pleased the greater number. Hence the private vices of the multitude have generally resulted in public error, or rather that common consent in vice which these worthy men would have to be law.

This submission of the wills of all those men to the will of one man, or one Counsel, is then made, when each one of them obligeth himself by contract to every one of the rest, not to resist the will of that one man, or counsel, to which he hath submitted himselfe; that is, that he refuse him not the use of his wealth, and strength, against any others whatsoever (for he is supposed still to retain a Right of defending himself against violence) and this is called UNION

Sin cannot be conceived in a natural state, but only in a civil state, where it is decreed by common consent what is good or bad.

Civil government being the sole object of forming societies, its administration must be conducted by common consent.