If he obeys no longer because the king commands, but because the king demonstrates the wisdom of his commands, it may be said that henceforth he will recognize no authority, and that he has become his own king.
Unhappy he who shall dare to command him, and shall offer, as his authority, only the vote of the majority; for, sooner or later, the minority will become the majority, and this imprudent despot will be overthrown, and all his laws annihilated.
In proportion as society becomes enlightened, royal authority diminishes.

That is a fact to which all history bears witness.

At the birth of nations, men reflect and reason in vain.

Without methods, without principles, not knowing how to use their reason, they cannot judge of the justice of their conclusions.

Then the authority of kings is immense, no knowledge having been acquired with which to contradict it.