The author argues that a pervasive inclination toward irresponsibility shapes legal ideas, professional practices, family life, and social institutions, and that judging strictly by written law removes moral responsibility from judges. He contrasts the French tendency to treat judges as mechanistic interpreters of statutes with systems where judges craft law through precedent or equitable reasoning, noting how different judicial models distribute accountability. The essays examine historical and comparative examples, show how legal formality influences civic behavior, and call for heightened responsibility across public and private spheres.