Working translation. This page is an English translation of the French page at meriquite.com/formulations/. It has not been adopted in English. In the event of any divergence of meaning, the French text prevails. The only English text adopted by the Conférence Nationale d'Expression Citoyenne is the founding doctrinal text, at Debt and Merit.
Reference formulations
A doctrine is quoted. This page brings together the formulations that are reproduced verbatim, the official definition, the decisions that settled them, and the turns of phrase that describe something other than Mériquité (the doctrine of debt and merit).
What Mériquité is
“Doctrine according to which none is born free of debt, for each person receives before producing, and must contribute, according to their capacities, to preserving, improving and handing down the common inheritance; this debt cannot be paid off and it never expires: it is handed down improved. In return, the community owes each person a criterion that is written, public and verifiable for access to public goods. From this handing down and from merit protected there results a way of living: tranquillity.”
This wording was settled on 8 August 2026, at the close of a comparative and adversarial test conducted by three independent arbiters. It is reproduced verbatim and is not reformulated.
The formulations that are authoritative
The formulations below are reproduced verbatim. Each is given with the published source in which it appears and the link to its exact location. A formulation that does not appear here is not canonical: it is a working formulation.
| Formulation | Provenance |
|---|---|
| “None is born free of debt.” | Debt and Merit, ch. III — On the debt English adopted by the CNEC, 22 August 2026 |
| “It is handed down; and it shall be handed down improved.” | Debt and Merit, ch. III — On the debt English adopted by the CNEC, 22 August 2026 |
| “We owe everything unto them that came before us. Unto them that are yet unborn, we owe that which is better.” | Debt and Merit, “The sentence” English adopted by the CNEC, 22 August 2026 |
| “Merit is no favour to be bestowed; it is a right to be defended.” | Debt and Merit, ch. IV — On merit English adopted by the CNEC, 22 August 2026 |
| “A society that owes nothing to those who can never repay it is not a society; it is a market.” | Debt and Merit, ch. II — On the human person English adopted by the CNEC, 22 August 2026 |
| “Security may leave a person under surveillance. Tranquillity leaves a person free.” | Debt and Merit, ch. VII — On the State English adopted by the CNEC, 22 August 2026 |
| “Equal dignity at birth; equitable means whereby that dignity may be made effectual.” | Debt and Merit, ch. V — On the school English adopted by the CNEC, 22 August 2026 |
| “[…] a doctrine is not judged by the promises of them that profess it; it is judged by the rules it imposeth.” | Debt and Merit, ch. X — On power and virtue English adopted by the CNEC, 22 August 2026 |
| “None is born alone.” | Doctrinal Note of 4 August 2026, I. A Working translation — French prevails |
| “Merit therefore does not make anyone free of debt. It protects the effort of the person who contributes.” | Doctrinal Note of 4 August 2026, introduction Working translation — French prevails |
| “Debt prevents merit from becoming the justification of privilege; merit prevents debt from becoming the denial of effort.” | Doctrinal Note of 4 August 2026, II. C Working translation — French prevails |
| “To receive is not to obey. To receive is to judge.” | Doctrinal Note of 4 August 2026, I. C Working translation — French prevails |
| “From debt honoured and merit protected there results tranquillity.” | Doctrinal Note of 4 August 2026, III. C Working translation — French prevails |
| “To protect. To ensure tranquillity. To develop.” | Debt and Merit, ch. VII — On the State English adopted by the CNEC, 22 August 2026 |
The decisions and their dates
Improper usages
The following turns of phrase recur often in reports and summaries. They describe something other than Mériquité. The reason is stated, together with the source on which it rests.
| What is wrongly written | Why it is inaccurate |
|---|---|
| “to be free of debt”, “to discharge one’s debt”, “to become free of debt” | The debt is not paid off and is not extinguished: it is handed down, improved. Merit protects effort; it releases no one from anything. Doctrinal Note, introduction and I. B |
| “meritocracy”, “mériquitisme” | Meritocracy is a principle for allocating positions; Mériquité is a doctrine of reciprocity. And the name of the school is Mériquité: those who profess it are mériquitaires. Réponse ouverte, § 1 and § 9 |
| “to ensure security” used to mean “to ensure tranquillity” | Security may leave a person under surveillance. Tranquillity leaves a person free. The technical use of the word—securing a procedure or a piece of data—remains correct. Debt and Merit, ch. VII |
| “to reward merit”, where what is at stake is a right or a responsibility | Merit is no favour to be bestowed; it is a right to be defended. The expression remains acceptable for an academic, sporting or honorary distinction. Debt and Merit, ch. IV |
| “doctrine of handouts”, “doctrine of freedom alone” | The founding text expressly rules out both: “Ours is not a doctrine of handouts […] Nor is ours a doctrine of freedom alone.” Debt and Merit, ch. “What we are not” |
| “programme”, “national project” | The doctrine states the enduring principles; the national project charts the course; the government programme puts figures to the measures. The founding text gives warning: “This text is neither an electoral programme, nor a national project, nor a contract for a term of office.” Réponse ouverte, § 6 |