Historical voices

Since, therefore, the efficacy of justice is so great that it strengthens and augments the power even of robbers, how great do we think its power will be in a constitutional government with its laws and courts?

And people admire especially the man who is uninfluenced by money; and if a man has proved himself in this direction, they think him tried as by fire.

For sensual pleasure, a most seductive mistress, turns the hearts of the greater part of humanity away from virtue; and when the fiery trial of affliction draws near, most people are terrified beyond measure.

While people admire in general everything that is great or better than they expect, they admire in particular the good qualities that they find unexpectedly in individuals.

The explanation of my apparent inconsistency is that the precision of speech we employ, when abstract truth is critically investigated in philosophic discussion, is one thing; and that employed, when we are adapting our language entirely…

Therefore, justice combined with practical wisdom will command all the confidence we can desire; justice without wisdom will be able to do much; wisdom without justice will be of no avail at all.

But (2) confidence is reposed in men who are just and true--that is, good men--on the definite assumption that their characters admit of no suspicion of dishonesty or wrong-doing.

Then, too, the love of people generally is powerfully attracted by a man's mere name and reputation for generosity, kindness, justice, honour, and all those virtues that belong to gentleness of character and affability of manner.

The highest, truest glory depends upon the following three things: the affection, the confidence, and the mingled admiration and esteem of the people.

Let this then be settled as the first and absolute essential--that we have the devotion of friends, affectionate and loving, who value our worth.

And if such retribution could overtake the Roman People for their injustice and tyranny, what ought private individuals to expect?

But to return to my subject: it is while we have preferred to be the object of fear rather than of love and affection, that all these misfortunes have fallen upon us.

And so in Rome only the walls of her houses remain standing--and even they wait now in fear of the most unspeakable crimes--but our republic we have lost for ever.

From this, one would realize that, if such rewards are offered, civil wars will never cease to be.

For if we had not allowed the crimes of many to go unpunished, so great licence would never have centred in one individual.

Let us, then, embrace this policy, which appeals to every heart and is the strongest support not only of security but also of influence and power--namely, to banish fear and cleave to love.

Freedom suppressed and again regained bites with keener fangs than freedom never endangered.

For let the laws be never so much overborne by some one individual's power, let the spirit of freedom be never so intimidated, still sooner or later they assert themselves either through unvoiced public sentiment, or through secret ballots…

But those who in a free state deliberately put themselves in a position to be feared are the maddest of the mad.

For fear is but a poor safeguard of lasting power; while affection, on the other hand, may be trusted to keep it safe for ever.

But of all motives, none is better adapted to secure influence and hold it fast than love; nothing is more foreign to that end than fear.

This last is, I admit, the meanest and most sordid motive of all, both for those who are swayed by it and for those who venture to resort to it. *22* For things are in a bad way, when that which should be obtained by merit is attempted by…

When we enjoy her favouring breeze, we are wafted over to the wished for haven; when she blows against us, we are dashed to destruction.

And yet, as, on the one hand, we secure great advantages through the sympathetic co-operation of our fellow-men; so, on the other, there is no curse so terrible but it is brought down by man upon man.