Allan Kardec-THE Spirit's Book_ The Principles of Spiritist Doctrine (1989)

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ALLAN KARDEC
immense number of acts that are submitted only to the tribunal of conscience."
876. Independently of the right established by human law, what is the basis of justice
according to natural law?
"Christ has told you: 'Do unto others whatsoever you would that others should do unto you.’
God has placed in the heart of man, as the true rule of all justice, the desire which each of you
feels to see his own rights respected. When uncertain as to what he should do in regard to his
fellow-creature in any given conjuncture, let each man ask himself what he would wish to
have done to him-self under the same circumstances; God could not give him a safer guide
than his own conscience."
The true criterion of justice is, in fact, to desire for others what one would desire for one's self; not merely
to desire for one's self what one would desire for others, which is not precisely the same thing. As it not
natural to desire harm for one's self, we are sure, in taking our personal desires as the type of our conduct
to wards our neighbours, never to desire anything but good for them. In ail ages and in all beliefs, man
has always sought to enforce his personal rights; the sublime peculiarity of the Christian religion is its
taking of personal right as the basis of the right of the neighbour.
877. Does the necessity of living in society impose any special obligations on mankind?
"Yes, and the first of these is to respect the rights of others; he who respects those rights will
always be just. In your world, where so many neglect to practise the law of justice, you have
recourse to reprisals, and this causes trouble and confusion in human society. Social life gives
rights and imposes corresponding duties."
878. It is possible for a man to be under an illusion as to the extent of his rights; what is there
that can show him their true limit?
"The limit of the right which he would recognise on the part of his neighbour towards himself
under similar circumstances, and vice-versa."
- But if each attributes to himself the rights of his fellow-creatures, what becomes of
subordination to superiors? Would not such a principle be anarchical and destructive of all
power?
“Natural rights are the same for all men, from the smallest to the greatest; God has not
fashioned some men from a finer clay than others, and all are equals in His sight. Natural
rights are eternal; the rights which man has established perish with his institutions. But each
man feels distinctly his strength or his weak-