The
requisition here again answers the purpose: we apply it to all
pursuits; each is bound to continue his own; the manufacturer to
manufacture, the trader to trade, even to his own detriment, because,
if he works at a loss, the public profits, and every good citizen
ought to prefer public profit to his own profit.[16] In effect, let
his office be what it will, he is an employee of the community;
therefore, the community may not only prescribe task-work to him, but
select his task; it need not consult him in the matter, for he has no
right to refuse. Hence it is that we appoint or maintain people in
spite of themselves, in the magistracy, in the army and in every other
species of employment. In vain may they excuse themselves or try get
out of the way; they must remain or become generals, judges, mayors,
national agents, town councilors, commissioners of public welfare or
administration,[17] even against their will. Too bad for them if the
responsibility is expensive or dangerous, if they have no time for
leisure, if they do not feel themselves qualified for it, if the rank
or services seems to them to lead to a prison or the guillotine; when
they declare that the work is forced labor we reply that they liable
to work for the State.
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