Freedom and communal resposibility

With Liberty, as I [now] bespeak, I intend the right which should befall on every Subject through his Nation's laws and statutes, namely to pursue his own good Fortune, insofar as he would not thereby infringe on the wellbeing of his co-citizens or Society as a whole.

We are all Humans, all Subjects to wicked Desire; therefore we require Co-operation and close Observation. As long as we stand outside Society, we may each pursue our own will regardless of others, but we are then also left entirely to our own Devices, deprived of all Defence; such liberty is natural. But as soon as we turn to Society for protection, then the wellbeing of this Society must be our first Priority. We have all, uncompelled, sworn fidelity to the Swedish Crown, such Crown being all the dearer to us by virtue of its Foundation on Pillars of Liberty. Thus no one is called to be another's Master, no one is to be another's Slave; all have equal Right, all the same Privilege.

For What Reason do so Many Swedes Emigrate Every Year?, 1765.

Happiness grows from equality

The freedom of a contented country does not consist by any means of the fact that one or other of the citizens is entitled to certain special privileges while others labour under some sort of thraldom, but when the humblest subject within society, under a wise government, may seek both his own and the society's well-being with his own hands that are just as free as those of the foremost persons in the country, together with society, only then can it be called freedom. And since such a general freedom of the all the citizens is the main characteristic of our revered constitution, then everything that is in conflict with it must be considered as an infringement of the constitution itself.

Three Questions in Political Economy, 1761-62.

Unequality

The more opportunities there are in a Society for some persons to live upon the toil of others, and the less those others may enjoy the fruits of their work themselves, the more is diligence killed, the former become insolent, the latter despairing, and both negligent.

The National Gain, 1765.

Economic equality

One can see from this how it is possible that the largest national profit in trade and business can, when it falls into the wrong hands, be far more injurious to the country than when the country loses a whole province through war. Even if it is thus so precious for a nation to maintain its freedom it must, however, also pay attention to the riches that have been collected at certain places. The community has no right to private property which came to people according to law, but also participates on the other hand in the ruin of the Fatherland if it does not quickly open the dams which have collected treasures in a few places and impoverished others.

The Source of the Weakness of the Kingdom (1765).