Full Idea
No one can voluntarily renounce his rights by a contract ..to the effect that he has no rights but only duties, for such a contract would deprive him of the right to make a contract, and would thus invalidate the one he had already made.
Gist of Idea
You can't make a contract renouncing your right to make contracts!
Source
Immanuel Kant (True in Theory, but not in Practice [1792], 2-2)
Book Reference
Kant,Immanuel: 'Political Writings', ed/tr. Reiss,Hans [CUP 1996], p.75
A Reaction
Kant tries to establish all of his principles by showing that their denial is contradictory. But this example is blatantly wrong. King Lear didn't nullify his previous legislation when he abdicated, and his two daughters legally kept their territories.
Related Idea
Idea 21781 The absolute right is the right to have rights [Hegel]