§. 97. And thus every man, by consenting with others to make one body politic
under one government, puts himself under an obligation to every one of that
society to submit to the determination of the majority, and to be concluded by
it; or else this original compact, whereby he with others incorporates into one
society, would signify nothing, and be no compact if he be left free and under
no other ties than he was in before in the state of Nature. For what appearance
would there be of any compact? What new engagement if he were no farther tied
by any decrees of the society than he himself thought fit and did actually
consent to? This would be still as great a liberty as he himself had before his
compact, or any one else in the state of Nature, who may submit himself and
consent to any acts of it if he thinks fit.