Essays and treatises on several subjects, Volume 2 |
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Contents
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Common terms and phrases
absolute monarchy advantages affection ancient appears Appian arise arts Athens authority banished barbarous beauty beget causes Cicero citizens civil Columella commerce common commonly constitution Demosthenes Diodorus Siculus eloquence employed equal ESSAY established esteemed factions favourable foreign former free government genius give greater Greece Greeks happiness house of Stuart imagine increase industry influence inhabitants interest Italy jealousy kind kingdom labour laws liberty Lysias magistrates mankind manners maxim ment mind modern monarchy nation neighbouring neral never object observe opinion orator Ovid particular party passion perfection perhaps person philosophers pleasure Pliny Plutarch political Polybius possessed present pretend prince principles produce racter reason refinement regard render republic riches Roman Rome says scarcely seems senate sensible sentiments slavery slaves society sovereign Sparta species Strabo supposed Tacitus taste taxes thing tion trade violent virtue whole Xenophon
Popular passages
Page 545 - I am apt to suspect the negroes, and in general all the other species of men (for there are four or five different kinds) to be naturally inferior to the whites. There never was a civilized nation of any other complexion than white, nor even any individual eminent either in action or speculation. No ingenious manufactures amongst them, no arts, no sciences...
Page 124 - To balance a large state or society (says he) whether monarchical or republican, on general laws, is a work of so great difficulty that no human genius, however comprehensive, is able by the mere dint of reason and reflection, to effect it The judgments of many must unite in the work: experience must guide their labor: time must bring it to perfection: and the feeling of inconveniences must correct the mistakes which they inevitably fall into, in their first trials and experiments.
Page 27 - NOTHING appears more surprising to those who consider human affairs with a philosophical eye, than the easiness with which the many are governed by the few ; and the implicit submission, with which men resign their own sentiments and passions to those of their rulers.
Page 343 - In opposition to this narrow and malignant opinion, I will venture to assert, that the increase of riches and commerce in any one nation, instead of hurting, commonly promotes the riches and commerce of all its neighbours...
Page 302 - The workman has not the same employment from the manufacturer and merchant; though he pays the same price for every thing in the market. The farmer cannot dispose of his corn and cattle, though he must pay the same rent to his landlord. The poverty and beggary, and sloth, which must ensue, are easily foreseen.
Page 545 - Such a uniform and constant difference could not happen, in so many countries and ages, if nature had not made an original distinction between these breeds of men. Not to mention our colonies, there are Negroe slaves dispersed all over Europe, of whom none ever discovered any symptoms of ingenuity; tho' low people, without education, will start up amongst us, and distinguish themselves in every profession.
Page 266 - ... it is the chief business of philosophers to regard the general course of things. I may add, that it is also the chief business of politicians; especially in the domestic government of the state, where the public good, which is, or ought to be their object, depends on the concurrence of a multitude of causes; not, as in foreign politics, on accidents and chances, and the caprices of a few persons.
Page 50 - And, as such a violent government cannot long subsist, we shall at last, after many convulsions and civil wars, find repose in absolute monarchy, which it would have been happier for us to have established peaceably from the beginning. Absolute monarchy, therefore, is the easiest death, the true Euthanasia of the British constitution.
Page 469 - Were you to preach, in most parts of the world, that political connections are founded altogether on voluntary consent or a mutual promise, the magistrate would soon imprison you as seditious for loosening the ties of obedience, if your friends did not before shut you up as delirious for advancing such absurdities.
Page 326 - Suppose four-fifths of all the money in GREAT BRITAIN to be annihilated in one night, and the nation reduced to the same condition, with regard to specie, as in the reigns of the HARRYS and EDWARDS, what would be the consequence? Must not the price of all labour and commodities sink in proportion, and everything be sold as cheap as they were in those ages?