Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

Adopted August 26, 1789, by the National Constituent Assembly of France.

Key Articles

1. Article 1: Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good.
2. Article 4: Liberty consists of the freedom to do everything which injures no one else; hence the exercise of the natural rights of each man has no limits except those which assure to the other members of the society the enjoyment of the same rights. These limits can only be determined by law.
3. Article 6: Law is the expression of the general will. Every citizen has a right to participate personally, or through his representative, in its foundation. It must be the same for all, whether it protects or punishes.