You cannot take a sheep from the flock, and by giving him a crook, and putting on him a certain garment, turn him into a shepherd. You perceive at once, on looking at the feet and hands, that they are designed for different purposes from the head. In all these instances, the intention of nature is written in such plain and forcible characters, that no one can mistake it. If, therefore, you see any men born amongst you as different from yourselves as you are from sheep, and as much superior, you may safely take it for granted that it is the will of Heaven that you should obey them, but as no one will pretend that there are any such men, the son of a king being born into the world the same naked, helpless, ignorant creature that your own children are, it will be proper to enquire why some men are set over and govern other men. And as to what these people say with regard to your having nothing to do with Government, I will tell you what Government is, and then you will judge whether you have any thing to do with it or no.
Government is the art of managing the affairs of a community.
Our community consists of nearly twelve millions, of whom I suppose about nine millions maintain themselves by some kind of manual labour. If, therefore, you of the lower classes have nothing to do with Government, three millions are allowed to manage as they please the affairs of nine millions. Government is not the art of managing the affairs of the moon, but your own affairs. It is not true therefore that you have nothing to do with it. Some are pleased to say, that if you understand Government, you will not obey it.