An essay on the history of civil society / [Adam Ferguson].

  • Adam Ferguson
Date:
1789
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay on the history of civil society / [Adam Ferguson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    401/438 page 391
    fraught with moral corruption, from our con- fident! g public life as a fcene for the gratification of mere vanity, avarice, and ambition; never as furmfhing the bed opportunity for a juft and a happy engagement of the mind and the heart. Emulation, and the defire of power, are' but forry motives to public condud; but if they have been, in any cafe,.the principal inducements from which men have taken part in the fervice of their country, any diminution of their preva- lence or force is a real corruption of national- manners; and the pretended moderation a (fumed by the higher orders of men , has a fatal effect in the date. The difinterefted love of the public, is a principle without which fome conftitutions of government cannot fubfift: but when we con- dder how feldom this has appeared a reigning padion , we have little reafon to impute the profperity or prefervation of nations, in every cafe, to its influence. It is fufficient, perhaps, under one form of go- vernment, that men fhould be fond of their inde- pendence; that they fhould be ready to oppofe ufurpation, and to repel perfonal indignities: under another, it is fufficient, that they fhould be tenacious of their rank, and of their honours; and inflead of a zeal for the public, entertain a vigilant jealoufy of the rights which pertain to themfelves. When numbers of men retain a certain degree of elevation and fortitude ; they are qualified to give a mutual check to their fcveral errors, and are able to ad in that variety of fituations , « C c 4
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