AUTHOR. Love, sanctioned by Society.
READER. Do you consider Marriage as indissoluble?
AUTHOR. Before the law, I do not; but at the moment of their union, the spouses should have full confidence that the bond will never be dissolved.
I believe that Marriage becomes indissoluble by the will alone of the spouses; that it can be so only in this manner.
READER. What part do you assign to Society in Marriage?
AUTHOR. You shall fix it yourself after recalling our principles.
If man and woman are free beings at any period of their life, they cannot legally and validly lose their liberty.
If man and woman are beings socially equal in any of their relations, the one cannot legally, validly be subordinated to the other.
If the continual end of the human being is to become perfected through liberty, and to seek happiness, no law can legitimately, validly turn him aside from its pursuit.
If the end of society should be to render individuals equal it cannot, under penalty of forfeiting its mission, constitute inequality of persons and of rights.