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106. The great Question which in all Ages has disturbed Mankind, and brought on them the greatest part of those Mischiefs which have ruin'd Cities, depopulated Countries, and disordered the Peace of the World, has been, Not whether there be Power in the world, nor whence it came, but who should have it. The settling of this point being of no smaller moment than the security of Princes, and the peace and welfare of their Estates and Kingdoms, a Reformer of Politics, one would think, should lay this sure, and be very clear in it. For if this remain disputable, all the rest will be to very little purpose; and the skill used in dressing up power with all the Splendor and Temptation Absoluteness can add to it, without shewing who has a Right to have it, will serve only to give a greater edge to Man’s Natural Ambition, which of it self is but too keen. What can this do but set Men on the more eagerly to scramble, and so lay a sure and lasting Foundation of endless Contention and Disorder, instead of that Peace and Tranquillity, which is the business of Government, and the end of human Society?


从古至今，为患于人类，给人类带来城市破坏、国家人口绝灭以及世界和平被破坏等绝大部分灾祸的最大问题，不在于世界上有没有权力存在，也不在于权力是从什么地方来的，而是谁应当具有权力的问题。由于这个问题的解决，其重要性不亚于君主们的安全，以及君主领地和国家的和平福利，在我们看来，一个政治学的作家在解决这个问题上应该给以很大的注意，并且观点应该非常清楚，因为，如果这一点还有争论的余地，其余一切便没有什么意义了。用极权主义所能带来的一切光辉和诱惑来装点权力而不说明谁应当具有这种权力，结果只会更加刺激人们去发展其自然的野心（这种野心本身，原来就极其容易走向极端）使人们更加热中于争权夺势，从而为不断的斗争和扰乱埋下永久的祸根，使本属政府的任务和人类社会之目的的和平及安宁倒不可得到了。