登陆注册
15709900000002

第2章

The more these refined arts advance, the more sociable men become: nor is it possible, that, when enriched with science, and possessed of a fund of conversation, they should be contented to remain in solitude, or live with their fellow-citizens in that distant manner, which is peculiar to ignorant and barbarous nations. They flock into cities; love to receive and communicate knowledge; to show their wit or their breeding; their taste in conversation or living, in clothes or furniture. Curiosity allures the wise; vanity the foolish; and pleasure both.

Particular clubs and societies are every where formed: Both sexes meet in an easy and sociable manner; and the tempers of men, as well as their behaviour, refine apace. So that, beside the improvements which they receive from knowledge and the liberal arts, it is impossible but they must feel an encrease of humanity, from the very habit of conversing together, and contributing to each other's pleasure and entertainment. Thus industry, knowledge, and humanity, are linked together by an indissoluble chain, and are found, from experience as well as reason, to be peculiar to the more polished, and, what are commonly denominated, the more luxurious ages.

Nor are these advantages attended with disadvantages, that bear any proportion to them. The more men refine upon pleasure, the less will they indulge in excesses of any kind; because nothing is more destructive to true pleasure than such excesses.

One may safely affirm, that the TARTARS are oftener guilty of beastly gluttony, when they feast on their dead horses, than EUROPEAN courtiers with all their refinements of cookery. And if libertine love, or even infidelity to the marriage-bed, be more frequent in polite ages, when it is often regarded only as a piece of gallantry; drunkenness, on the other hand, is much less common: A vice more odious, and more pernicious both to mind and body. And in this matter I would appeal, not only to an OVID or a PETRONIUS, but to a SENECA or a CATO. We know, that CAESAR, during CATILINE'S conspiracy, being necessitated to put into CATO'S hands a billet-doux, which discovered an intrigue with SERVILIA, CATO'S own sister, that stern philosopher threw it back to him with indignation; and in the bitterness of his wrath, gave him the appellation of drunkard, as a term more opprobrious than that with which he could more justly have reproached him.

But industry, knowledge, and humanity, are not advantageous in private life alone: They diffuse their beneficial influence on the public, and render the government as great and flourishing as they make individuals happy and prosperous. The encrease and consumption of all the commodities, which serve to the ornament and pleasure of life, are advantageous to society; because, at the same time that they multiply those innocent gratifications to individuals, they are a kind of storehouse of labour, which, in the exigencies of state, may be turned to the public service. In a nation, where there is no demand for such superfluities, men sink into indolence, lose all enjoyment of life, and are useless to the public, which cannot maintain or support its fleets and armies, from the industry of such slothful members.

The bounds of all the EUROPEAN kingdoms are, at present, nearly the same they were two hundred years ago: But what a difference is there in the power and grandeur of those kingdoms?

Which can be ascribed to nothing but the encrease of art and industry. When CHARLES VIII of FRANCE invaded ITALY, he carried with him about 20,000 men: Yet this armament so exhausted the nation, as we learn from GUICCIARDIN, that for some years it was not able to make so great an effort. The late king of FRANCE, in time of war, kept in pay above 400,000 men; though from MAZARINE'S death to his own, he was engaged in a course of wars that lasted near thirty years.

This industry is much promoted by the knowledge inseparable from ages of art and refinement; as, on the other hand, this knowledge enables the public to make the best advantage of the industry of its subjects. Laws, order, police, discipline; these can never be carried to any degree of perfection, before human reason has refined itself by exercise, and by an application to the more vulgar arts, at least, of commerce and manufacture. Can we expect, that a government will be well modelled by a people, who know not how to make a spinning-wheel, or to employ a loom to advantage? Not to mention, that all ignorant ages are infested with superstition, which throws the government off its bias, and disturbs men in the pursuit of their interest and happiness.

Knowledge in the arts of government naturally begets mildness and moderation, by instructing men in the advantages of humane maxims above rigour and severity, which drive subjects into rebellion, and make the return to submission impracticable, by cutting off all hopes of pardon. When the tempers of men are softened as well as their knowledge improved, this humanity appears still more conspicuous, and is the chief characteristic which distinguishes a civilized age from times of barbarity and ignorance. Factions are then less inveterate, revolutions less tragical, authority less severe, and seditions less frequent.

Even foreign wars abate of their cruelty; and after the field of battle, where honour and interest steel men against compassion as well as fear, the combatants divest themselves of the brute, and resume the man.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 银鼠

    银鼠

    救命,我变成了一只老鼠!唉?等等!桥豆麻袋!美女!美女竟然把我放到了她的大腿上……嘿嘿嘿,好像当一只老鼠也不错嘛!
  • 激发青少年聪慧机敏的机智故事

    激发青少年聪慧机敏的机智故事

    一滴水可以折射阳光的光辉,一本好书可以滋润美好的心灵。健康的身心、丰富的情感、较强的实践能力、优良的品质、过硬的特殊技能、良好的习惯、深厚的文化底蕴及必要的合作素质等,是青少年朋友在成长道路上顺利前进所需要的最基础、最必要的条件,为青少年朋友们从自身着眼、开创成功指明了方向。社会是一幅斑驳陆离的图画,人生是一条蜿蜒扭动的曲线。知识是智慧和能力的基础。知识能够守护生命,是保护自己的盔甲。成长是一种历程,我们从无知到有知,从天真到深沉,我们用生命书写着成长的哲学,正是这些哲学的智慧丰富了我们的人生;成长是一种升华,成长的过程就是将软弱升华为刚强,将平淡升华为壮丽。
  • 闻道沧海

    闻道沧海

    世人皆言圣人好,求道之路何寂寥!终朝只恨聚无多,及到多时人没了!求道之路,白骨几何?一朝得道,再回头,却已是沧海桑田!
  • 高冷腹黑总裁的小宠妻

    高冷腹黑总裁的小宠妻

    女孩悲惨的身世,让她有了个缺陷的童年,知道遇上他,冷司南,一位高冷帅气的富二代,她的人生也随着他而变了。。。。。。
  • 鬼籣

    鬼籣

    世界处于混沌之中,而我就是这世界的救主!!!
  • 施肥知识(上)

    施肥知识(上)

    肥料是作物的粮食。农作物生长需要的营养元素,现在已经知道的有20多种,其中碳、氢、氧可以从空气和水中获得,一般不需要以肥料的形式提供。氮、磷、钾在作物体内含量较高,吸收得也较多,占干物重的百分之几到千分之几,称为“大量元素”。氮、磷、钾三种元素在土壤中含量普遍较少,需要以肥料的形式补充,所以特别称它们为“肥料三要素”。钙、镁、硫一般称为“中量元素”。铜、锌、铁、锰、硼、钼等元素,作物需要量少,称为“微量元素”。一般土壤中含有的中、微量元素都能够满足作物的需要,但对于某些对中、微量元素特别敏感的作物和某些微量元素缺乏较严重的土壤,则必须施用相应的中、微量元素肥料。
  • 星海封天

    星海封天

    天地不仁,以万物为刍狗。结果依然注定,牢笼已经建好,即便圣人,也终究逃脱不了。
  • 不二梦王

    不二梦王

    白长生意外重生到一本废材流玄幻小说里,成为还没有崛起的主角,他察觉以后,立志要做一个挣脱命运的逍遥人,开始搅浑剧情,不按常理出牌。给他安排妹纸他不要,让他装逼他不去,该热血时他又怂,所有套路他非要改一改......且看白长生如何一步一步把玄幻小说搅乱成为四不像,成为全网最不安分的主角。
  • 诸神世纪之倾歌一剑

    诸神世纪之倾歌一剑

    淡漠黑色,鲜血与汗水编织的谎言美酒一尽,支离碎梦,再怀十年少年,一泪羽,苍白忆,纵横的风流操作,黄昏的夜幕以结果这恩怨情仇,金钱与权利在一场游戏,一梦现实。
  • 宇宙全民进化

    宇宙全民进化

    什么,宇宙居然是小萝莉劈出来的。宇宙之心被毁任逍遥只能跑到太空种植,点亮星球之心修复了。嗯?桃子树居然发生进化变异变成千年蟠桃。掌握星球科技,收集材料居然能自己创造发明。宇宙中还有神秘外星生物,任逍遥在探索宇宙过程将会遇到怎样的精彩。