The declension of manners in any state is always attended with that of empire and dominion.

For governing a great nation, a great character is requifite.

It is the nature of governments truly free to be agitated during peace. It is by these inteftine motions that the spirits preserve the continual remembrance of the nations rights.

In free ftates there are the vigour and elafticity which liberty fupplies, but they are flow in their operations, and have not that activity which abfolute monarchy gives to designs.

Monarchies thrive beft with peace and fecurity; inquietudes, and formidable enemies, make republics flourish.

Let ftates that aim at greatnefs, (Lord BACON fays) take heed how their nobility and gentry multiply too faft. In coppice woods, if the ftadles be left too thick, there never will be clean underwood, but shrubs and bushes.

Alfo, that the best governments are always fubject to be like the faireft chryftals, wherein, every ificle or grain is feen, which, in a fouler ftone, is never perceived.

Magiftrates are to obey, as well as to execute the laws. Power is not to do wrong, but to punish the doers of wrong.

Plots, when difcovered, and infurrections, when fuppreffed, strengthen the government they were defigned to ruin.

Kings may marry, but kingdoms never marry; fo that by fuch marriage, no permanent intereft is gained.

Popular

1

Popular tumults have worse effects upon common fafety, than the rankeft tyranny, as it is easier to please the humour, and either appease or resist the fury of one fingle perfon, than of a multitude. A licentious mob is an affembly of tyrants.

There is no stretching of power; 'tis a good rule, Eat within your ftomach, Act within your commiffion.

The good-will of the governed will be starved, if it is not fed by the good conduct of the gover

nors.

It is in a disorderly government, as in a river, the lightest things fwim at the top.

They that cannot be induced to fear for love, will never be inforced to love for fear.

Fundamental alterations are inevitable perils. The number and welfare of the people are the certain ftrength of a state.

The government is best and most fure, when the fubject joys in his obedience.

An exact administration, and good choice of proper inftruments infenfibly make the government in a manner abfolute, without affuming it.

The good of fociety, (or the great whole) should be the polar ftar of every legislature and government. By it, the mighty powers with which they are entrusted were created, and to its use alone they should be devoted. The highest of them are but its inftruments.

See before FACTION, and hereafter PARTY

and POPULARITY,

!!

GRATITUDE.

TRI

tude.

ARIFLING gifts receive a value when they are the offerings of refpect, efteem and grati

Gratitude is the mother of Virtue.

He that is grateful, would be generous, if it were in his power.

Gratitude is the most pleasing exercise of the mind, and brings with it fuch an inward fatisfaction, that the duty is fufficiently rewarded by the performance of it.

Thankfulness is the cause of encrease.

Write injuries in fand, but kindneffes on marble.

Gratitude will ever be fcarce in the world, whilst self-love and pride are so predominant in it.

Gratitude feldom lives in the extremes either of adverfity or fuccefs.-It is like thofe fine colours which forms or funshine equally deface.

To conftitute gratitude, there must be good sense, humility and greatness of foul.

As a generous mind delights in conferring favours, fo an ingenuous and grateful heart is fuperior to false shame in acknowledging them.

The favours we have received from any one, oblige us to give way to him a little when he does us an injury.

The gratitude of the generality of men, is, too often, but a fecret defire of obtaining greater fa

yours.

Every body, almoft, takes a pleasure in returning fmall obligations; many are grateful for moderate ones; yet there are but few who are not ungrateful for great ones.

Gratitude of all virtues is the most meritorious, as human laws cannot enforce the exertion of it,-it is the most certain fign of a truly noble foul.

He that preaches gratitude, pleads the cause both of God and man; for without it, we can be neither fociable nor religious.

There is a certain gratitude fo fenfible, that it not only discharges us of the obligations we have received, but even makes our friends indebted to us, while we do but pay what we owed them.

A grateful mind will be thankful for benefits past, although its further expectations should not be anfwered: a bad mind will afk more.

Gratitude preserves old friends, and procures

new.

A truly noble spirit can forget injuries, but not benefits.

See BENEFITS. See INGRATITUDE. See SELFINTEREST, and SELF LOve.

GREAT MEN AND GREATNESS.

G

REAT men are like wolves, we must never

ftrike at them unless we are fure of our blow,

or they will be sure to tear us to pieces.

Whom great men wrong, they will hate.

Eat

Eat no cherries with great men, for they will caft the ftones in your eyes; like fire at a diftance, they give warmth, but if too near, they burn.

Great men make promises, but mean men keep them.

Goodness is the best part of greatnefs, and like a diamond fet in gold, fhould be its fupport.

Greatness without goodness is like the Coloffus of Rhodes, not fo much to be admired for its workmanship, as its huge bulk.

Greatnefs may build the tomb, but goodness muft make the epitaph.

Never provoke those who are able easily to undo you.

If you are admitted to a great man, let your com→ pliment be short, fpeak little, and retire foon.

When a great man is kinder to you than ufual, be affured it is not for nothing.

Contend not with great men whatever be the provocation, for right or wrong they will certainly worft you at last.

Nothing is more eafy, than to make an ill use of a great station, nor any thing more difficult than to discharge the duties it requires.

Great fouls are not diftinguished by having less paffion and more virtue, but by having nobler and greater designs than the vulgar.

The way to happiness is fair, but the paffage to greatnefs is craggy, and ftands not only upon a precipice, but also upon ice.

Great men ought always to be rated by the means they took to acquire their greatness.

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