Some People Are Not To Be Persuaded

Knowledge Both Enlarges And Multiplies Our Desires, And The Fewer Things A Man Wishes For, The More Easily His Necessities May Be Supply'd.

The First Rudiments Of Morality, Broach'd By Skilful Politicians, To Render Men Useful To Each Other As Well As Tractable, Were Chiefly Contrived That The Ambitious Might Reap The More Benefit From, And Govern Vast Numbers Of Them With The Greater Ease And Security.

The Only Thing Of Weight That Can Be Said Against Modern Honor Is That It Is Directly Opposite To Religion. The One Bids You Bear Injuries With Patience, The Other Tells You If You Don't Resent Them, You Are Not Fit To Live.

Because Impudence Is A Vice, It Does Not Follow That Modesty Is A Virtue; It Is Built Upon Shame, A Passion In Our Nature, And May Be Either Good Or Bad According To The Actions Performed From That Motive.

If Laying Aside All Worldly Greatness And Vain-glory, I Should Be Ask'd Where I Thought It Was Most Probable That Men Might Enjoy True Happiness, I Would Prefer A Small Peaceable Society, In Which Men, Neither Envy'd Nor Esteem'd By Neighbours, Should Be Contented To Live Upon The Natural Product Of The Spot They Inhabit, To A Vast Multitude Abounding In Wealth And Power, That Should Always Be Conquering Others By Their Arms Abroad, And Debauching Themselves By Foreign Luxury At Home.