more on this theme | more from this thinker | more from this text
Full Idea
For really I think that the poorest hee that is in England hath a life to live, as the greatest hee; …and every Man that is to live under a Government ought first by his own Consent to put himself under that Government.
Gist of Idea
Even the poorest have a life to lead, and so should consent to who governs them
Source
- (The Putney Debates [1647])
A Reaction
[remark made by Thomas Rainsborough] This is the social contract idea which is explicit in Hobbes. I'm sure we can at least trace it back to John Lilburne in the 1630s.