Provides biographical background on La Boétie and begins examination of his "Discourse"

The Discourse on Voluntary Servitude (Discours de la servitude volontaire) is a 16th century French essay attributed to Étienne de La Boétie. It was first published in full after La Boétie's death (1563) in the third volume of Memoires de l'estat de France, sous Charles IX in 1576. It had appeared in part in 1574 in Latin and then translated to (middle) French in the Huguenot pamphlet Le Reveille-matin des François, et de leur voisins. According to La Boétie's friend Michel de Montaigne, who inherited his books and papers, the essay was written when La Boétie was 18-years old (c. 1548).
In the Discourse, the author wonders why people succumb so easily to tyranny or authority, when by refusing to serve they would become free and the despot would collapse like a large colossus missing its base. The author conjectures that tyranny is maintained because although only five or six persons support the ruler directly, these in turn are supported by hundreds and thousands more seeking favors.
Articles
Provides biographical background on La Boétie and begins examination of his "Discourse"
Examines major themes in La Boétie's "Discourse": custom (habit), control of information, buying off the people and withdrawal of consent
Examines key passages from La Boetie's Discourse on Voluntary Servitude and criticizes newspaper editorial writers (with a recent example) for preaching to the people to acquiesce and submit to government
Books
Electronic text of the 1942 English translation by Harry Kurz available at the Online Library of Liberty, in HTML, PDF and Kindle formats
- ISBN 1551642921
: Paperback, Black Rose Books, 2006
- ISBN 1603848398
: Paperback, Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 2012