Take back our power from those we have given it... La Boétie - Speech on voluntary servitude

in #philosophy7 years ago

In France, we have got a philosopher, called La Boétie, who says in the text "Speech on voluntary servitude" (I'll do my best to translate him) :

"The one who masters you so much, only has two eyes, two hands, one body, and he hasn't more than any man from any of our city, but the advantage you give to him to destroy you. Where does he take his eyes, with which he watch you, if you don't give it to him ? How has he got so many hands to beat you, if he doesn't take them from you ? [...] How has he any power over you, but BY YOU ? "

(La Boétie - Discours de la servitude volontaire)