Étienne de La Boétie is a 16th century figure known for writing The Discourse of Voluntary Servitude. His ideas emphasized the power people have over tyrants and non-violent resistance. An example of his ideas put into action is the Velvet Revolution. Listen to this vignette of Boétie, his life, and achievements.
Etienne de la Boétie
Early Life and Education
Étienne de La Boétie was born in 1530 in Sarlat, in the Périgord region of southwest France, to an aristocratic family. His father was a royal official, and his mother was the sister of the president of the Bordeaux Parliament. Orphaned at a young age, La Boétie was raised by his uncle. He earned his law degree from the University of Orléans in 1553 and secured a royal appointment to the Bordeaux Parliament the following year, despite his youth.
Career and Achievements
La Boétie distinguished himself as a judge and diplomatic negotiator. He supported the right of Christians to private worship and made significant contributions to political philosophy. Tragically, he died in 1563 at the age of 32.
The Discourse on Voluntary Servitude
La Boétie’s most notable work, The Discourse on Voluntary Servitude, critiques absolute political power. He argues that tyrants hold power only because people consent to it, a concept later summarized by libertarian philosopher Murray N. Rothbard:
“To him, the great mystery of politics was obedience to rulers. Why in the world do people agree to be looted and otherwise oppressed by government overlords? It is not just fear, Boétie explains… for our consent is required. And that consent can be non-violently withdrawn.”
Why People Obey
La Boétie explores why the majority submit to the rule of a minority, describing it as “voluntary servitude.” In an abridged excerpt, he writes:
“How does it happen that so many [people]… suffer under a single tyrant who has no other power than the power they give him… Surely a striking situation! Yet it is so common that one must grieve the more and wonder the less…”
He attributes this obedience to societal conditioning, where people accept their system without questioning its justice, trained to revere their leaders.
The Non-Violent Solution
La Boétie proposes a non-violent remedy to end tyranny: withdrawing consent. He compares tyranny to a fire that dies without fuel:
“Resolve to serve no more, and you are at once freed… simply support [the tyrant] no longer; then you will behold him, like a great Colossus whose pedestal has been pulled away, fall of his own weight and break in pieces.”
He emphasizes that the tyrant’s power stems entirely from the people’s cooperation, urging them to stop enabling their own oppression.
Legacy and Resources
Étienne de La Boétie’s insights into voluntary servitude remain a cornerstone of libertarian thought, highlighting the power of collective non-compliance.
- Purchase the Book: Discourse on Voluntary Servitude: Why People Enslave Themselves to Authority by Étienne de La Boétie is available via Amazon.
- Support Mere Liberty: Become a patron at mereliberty.com/membership.
Featured Profile | Etienne de la Boétie
Etienne de La Boétie was born in 1530 in Sarlat (Sar-lah), in the Périgord (pey-ree-gawr) region of southwest France, to an aristocratic family. His father; a royal official. His mother; the sister of the president of the Bordeaux Parliament.
La Boétie was orphaned at an early age and raised by his uncle. He received his law degree from the University of Orléans (oh lee ahn) in 1553. La Boétie earned a royal appointment to the Bordeaux Parliament the following year, despite his young age. He was a distinguished judge and diplomatic negotiator. But he met an untimely death in 1563 at the age of thirty-two.
