BOOK III PART II
in the state of nature, or that imaginary state,
which preceded society, there be neither justice
nor injustice, yet I assert not, that it was allow-
able, in such a state, to violate the property of
others. I only maintain, that there was no such
thing as property; and consequently coued be
no such thing as justice or injustice. I shall have
occasion to make a similar reflection with re-
gard to promises, when I come to treat of them;
and I hope this reflection, when duly weighed,
will suffice to remove all odium from the fore-
going opinions, with regard to justice and in-
justice.