BOOK III PART II
beginning with Occupation.
The possession of all external goods is
changeable and uncertain; which is one of the
most considerable impediments to the estab-
lishment of society, and is the reason why, by
universal agreement, express or tacite, men re-
strain themselves by what we now call the
rules of justice and equity. The misery of the
condition, which precedes this restraint, is the
cause why we submit to that remedy as quickly
as possible; and this affords us an easy reason,
why we annex the idea of property to the first
possession, or to occupation. Men are unwill-
ing to leave property in suspense, even for the
shortest time, or open the least door to violence
and disorder. To which we may add, that the
first possession always engages the attention
most; and did we neglect it, there would be no