Society is indeed a contract. It is a partnership in all science; a partnership in all art; a partnership in every virtue, and in all perfection. As the ends of such a partnership cannot be obtained in many generations, it becomes a partnership not only between those who are living, but between those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are to be born.

Summary

This quote highlights the idea that society is essentially a contract between different generations. It emphasizes that society is not merely a temporary arrangement for those currently living, but rather a collaboration that spans generations. It suggests that society is united through the pursuit of knowledge, art, virtue, and perfection, with the understanding that these goals may not be fully achieved within one lifetime. Therefore, it is a shared responsibility and commitment that extends beyond the present, binding together the living, the deceased, and future generations.

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