§. 172. Thirdly, despotical power is an absolute, arbitrary power one man has
over another, to take away his life whenever he pleases; and this is a power
which neither Nature gives, for it has made no such distinction between one man
and another, nor compact can convey. For man, not having such an arbitrary
power over his own life, cannot give another man such a power over it, but it
is the effect only of forfeiture which the aggressor makes of his own life when
he puts himself into the state of war with another. For having quitted reason,
which God hath given to be the rule betwixt man and man, and the peaceable ways
which that teaches, and made use of force to compass his unjust ends upon
another where he has no right, he renders himself liable to be destroyed by his
adversary whenever he can, as any other noxious and brutish creature that is
destructive to his being. And thus captives, taken in a just and lawful war,
and such only, are subject to a despotical power, which, as it arises not from
compact, so neither is it capable of any, but is the state of war continued.
For what compact can be made with a man that is not master of his own life?
What condition can he perform? And if he be once allowed to be master of his
own life, the despotical, arbitrary power of his master ceases. He that is
master of himself and his own life has a right, too, to the means of preserving
it; so that as soon as compact enters, slavery ceases, and he so far quits his
absolute power and puts an end to the state of war who enters into conditions
with his captive.
