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An Essay On The Different States And Conditions Of Life.
The same mav be said of the society of men distinguished . into different states , " its cohesion , duration , and perfection consist principally in the arrangement of its members , and in their subordination ' amongst themselves . Unfortunately there are but few of the stones . of this preat edifice which are laid in the place they ought to be . Each stone places itself therein as it likes best ; so that there is less reason to be astonished at the confusion and disorders that reign ' in the superstructure , than to see that it has been able to subsist so long . . . . ..
Things are . now brought to such a pass , that interest alone decides the choice that is to be ' made of a state of life ; whence , the common good of society , which indeed ought to be the main point of view , is seldom or ever consulted . We are now nothing like those Romans whom Horace celebrates with so much joy and alacrity : these were the Regultis ' s , the Fabricius ' s , . the Curius's , the-Camillus ' s . whom of their fore
hardy poverty had reared within the narrow precinct - father ' s house , and who , with their r-ugh aspect and dishevelled jlocks , would never determine to take upon them an employ , but when . they were sensible they mig ht prove useful therein to their country . ^ The rural swain then took upon himself the troublesome functions pi ' a Dictator ; and with the same pleasure he had hasted away to face backto
. the enemies ofhis counsry in the . field of battle , he came . resume the labours of his " plough , when the welfare of the republic did not require he should desert . that useful occupation . If there . were persons of merit unemployed by the republic , they were not less zealous for . its . "dory , and they used no endeavours to blast , . by . -the impure breath of jealousy , the laurels of those who were judged worthy of commanding it " And then also none were seen raised by favour " alone ; and , if I may so say , the dregs , . the . filth , the abomination ofthe nation were never seen possessed of the first posts in the
state . Since this time , how ; few have been indebted to the | r virtues for the elevated . rank . they . stand-in , ordiave sought the acquisition ofthe honours they . enjoy with a view of serving their country ! Many such have been seen ' undoubtedly , and many . such are seet ^ in pur . days ; but are not most of them like those poor , starved , shrivelled grains , whichhaving been for a long time the -spprt of the windshave been
, , wafted and fixed by chance on high hills , where , without . being productive of the least useful-matter , they pride themselves in standing over the fertile v . allies , where grow the delightful . crops that promise abundance ? Can . we help admiring the custom of the Lacedemonians , who had their children reared at the expence of . the republic ? They
pretended thereby . to apply them to that state of life for which they were most proper . From . this nursery came : forth the vigorous shrubs , which seldom failed to reward the care of culture , and to produce fruits of singular service to their fellow , citizens . By this method , . men were never seen , , as amongst us , passing suddenl y , without talents , from the excess of meanness to au extreme eleva-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
An Essay On The Different States And Conditions Of Life.
The same mav be said of the society of men distinguished . into different states , " its cohesion , duration , and perfection consist principally in the arrangement of its members , and in their subordination ' amongst themselves . Unfortunately there are but few of the stones . of this preat edifice which are laid in the place they ought to be . Each stone places itself therein as it likes best ; so that there is less reason to be astonished at the confusion and disorders that reign ' in the superstructure , than to see that it has been able to subsist so long . . . . ..
Things are . now brought to such a pass , that interest alone decides the choice that is to be ' made of a state of life ; whence , the common good of society , which indeed ought to be the main point of view , is seldom or ever consulted . We are now nothing like those Romans whom Horace celebrates with so much joy and alacrity : these were the Regultis ' s , the Fabricius ' s , . the Curius's , the-Camillus ' s . whom of their fore
hardy poverty had reared within the narrow precinct - father ' s house , and who , with their r-ugh aspect and dishevelled jlocks , would never determine to take upon them an employ , but when . they were sensible they mig ht prove useful therein to their country . ^ The rural swain then took upon himself the troublesome functions pi ' a Dictator ; and with the same pleasure he had hasted away to face backto
. the enemies ofhis counsry in the . field of battle , he came . resume the labours of his " plough , when the welfare of the republic did not require he should desert . that useful occupation . If there . were persons of merit unemployed by the republic , they were not less zealous for . its . "dory , and they used no endeavours to blast , . by . -the impure breath of jealousy , the laurels of those who were judged worthy of commanding it " And then also none were seen raised by favour " alone ; and , if I may so say , the dregs , . the . filth , the abomination ofthe nation were never seen possessed of the first posts in the
state . Since this time , how ; few have been indebted to the | r virtues for the elevated . rank . they . stand-in , ordiave sought the acquisition ofthe honours they . enjoy with a view of serving their country ! Many such have been seen ' undoubtedly , and many . such are seet ^ in pur . days ; but are not most of them like those poor , starved , shrivelled grains , whichhaving been for a long time the -spprt of the windshave been
, , wafted and fixed by chance on high hills , where , without . being productive of the least useful-matter , they pride themselves in standing over the fertile v . allies , where grow the delightful . crops that promise abundance ? Can . we help admiring the custom of the Lacedemonians , who had their children reared at the expence of . the republic ? They
pretended thereby . to apply them to that state of life for which they were most proper . From . this nursery came : forth the vigorous shrubs , which seldom failed to reward the care of culture , and to produce fruits of singular service to their fellow , citizens . By this method , . men were never seen , , as amongst us , passing suddenl y , without talents , from the excess of meanness to au extreme eleva-