Second Treatise of Government — Page 6

English → De Book II Level 9/10

But though this be a state of liberty, yet it is not a state of licence: though man in that state have an uncontroulable liberty to dispose of his person or possessions, yet he has not liberty to destroy himself, or so much as any creature in his possession, but where some nobler use than its bare preservation calls for it.

Obwohl dies jedoch ein Zustand der Freiheit ist, so ist es doch kein Zustand der Zügellosigkeit: obwohl der Mensch in diesem Zustand eine unkontrollierbare Freiheit hat, über seine Person oder sein Eigentum zu verfügen, so hat er doch nicht die Freiheit, sich selbst zu zerstören, oder auch nur irgendein Geschöpf in seinem Besitz, es sei denn, ein edlerer Zweck als dessen bloße Erhaltung erfordert es.

The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions: for men being all the workmanship of one omnipotent, and infinitely wise maker; all the servants of one sovereign master, sent into the world by his order, and about his business; they are his property, whose workmanship they are, made to last during his, not one another's pleasure: and being furnished with like faculties, sharing all in one community of nature, there cannot be supposed any such subordination among us, that may authorize us to destroy one another, as if we were made for one another's uses, as the inferior ranks of creatures are for our's.

Der Naturzustand hat ein Naturgesetz, das ihn regiert und jeden verpflichtet: und die Vernunft, die dieses Gesetz ist, lehrt die gesamte Menschheit, die es nur befragen will, dass, da alle gleich und unabhängig sind, niemand einem anderen in seinem Leben, seiner Gesundheit, seiner Freiheit oder seinem Eigentum schaden darf: denn da die Menschen allesamt das Werk eines allmächtigen und unendlich weisen Schöpfers sind, allesamt Diener eines souveränen Herrn, auf seinen Befehl und in seinen Angelegenheiten in die Welt gesandt, so sind sie sein Eigentum, dessen Werk sie sind, geschaffen, um nach seinem, nicht nach dem Willen des jeweils anderen zu bestehen: und da sie mit gleichen Fähigkeiten ausgestattet sind und alle an einer Gemeinschaft der Natur teilhaben, kann unter uns keine solche Unterordnung angenommen werden, die uns berechtigen würde, einander zu vernichten, als wären wir füreinander erschaffen worden, so wie die niederen Rangstufen der Geschöpfe für uns erschaffen wurden.

Vocabulary

Obwohl: Although; despite the fact that something is true.
dies: This; referring to something previously mentioned.
jedoch: However; but; used to introduce a contrasting idea.
ein: A; an; the indefinite article in German.
Zustand: State; condition; a particular situation or circumstance.
der: The; masculine definite article in German.
Freiheit: Freedom; liberty; the state of being free.
ist: Is; present tense of sein (to be).
so: So; thus; in this manner or way.
es: It; the neuter pronoun referring to things.
doch: Yet; still; used to express contradiction or emphasis.
kein: No; not a; the negative article in German.
obwohl: Although; even though; despite something being true.
Mensch: Human; person; a member of the human species.
in: In; within; indicating location or position.
diesem: This; in this; referring to something specific.
eine: A; an; feminine form of the indefinite article.
hat: Has; third person singular of haben (to have).
über: Over; about; concerning; across something.
seine: His; its; possessive pronoun for masculine nouns.
Person: Person; individual; a human being or character.
oder: Or; used to present alternatives or choices.
sein: His; to be; possessive or auxiliary verb.
Eigentum: Property; possession; something owned by a person.
zu: To; too; preposition indicating direction or purpose.
verfügen: To dispose of; to have at one's disposal.
er: He; masculine pronoun referring to a male.
nicht: Not; negation; used to deny or refuse.
die: The; feminine or plural definite article.
sich: Oneself; reflexive pronoun for all persons.
selbst: Self; oneself; used for emphasis or clarity.
zerstören: To destroy; to ruin; to demolish completely.
auch: Also; too; as well; in addition.
nur: Only; merely; nothing more than; just.
irgendein: Any; some; an indefinite or unspecified thing.
Geschöpf: Creature; being; any living organism or animal.
seinem: His; its; dative form of possessive pronoun.
Besitz: Possession; property; something that is owned.
sei: Be; subjunctive form of sein used in formal contexts.
denn: Because; for; used to give a reason.
Zweck: Purpose; aim; intention or objective of something.
als: As; than; used in comparisons or descriptions.
dessen: Its; of which; possessive pronoun for things.
bloße: Mere; bare; only; nothing more than simple.
Erhaltung: Preservation; maintenance; the act of keeping something.
erfordert: Requires; demands; calls for as necessary.
Der: The; masculine definite article in German.
das: The; that; neuter definite article or pronoun.
ihn: Him; masculine accusative pronoun referring to male.
regiert: Rules; governs; exercises authority or control over.
und: And; used to connect words, phrases, or clauses.
jeden: Everyone; each person; every individual without exception.
verpflichtet: Obligates; binds; makes someone duty-bound to do.
Vernunft: Reason; rationality; the faculty of thinking logically.
dieses: This; of this; neuter form of demonstrative.
Gesetz: Law; rule; a binding regulation or principle.
lehrt: Teaches; instructs; imparts knowledge or skill.
gesamte: Entire; whole; comprising all parts together completely.
Menschheit: Humanity; mankind; the human race collectively.
befragen: To ask; to question; to seek information from.
will: Wants; wishes; desires or intends to do.
dass: That; used to introduce subordinate clauses.
da: Since; because; given that; for that reason.
alle: All; every; the whole of something together.
gleich: Equal; same; identical in value or status.
unabhängig: Independent; free from control of others.
sind: Are; plural present tense of sein (to be).
niemand: Nobody; no one; not a single person.
einem: A; an; dative form of indefinite article.
anderen: Another; other; different from or additional one.
Leben: Life; living; existence or the state of being.
seiner: His; its; genitive or dative possessive pronoun.
Gesundheit: Health; wellness; the state of being well.
schaden: To harm; to injure; to cause damage to.
darf: May; is allowed; has permission to do.

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