Essays: Moral, Political, and Literary

ESSAY II

Essay_501-550.indd 538 12/27/11 9:21 PM ESSAY II OF MORAL PREJUOICES1 T HER E is a Set of Men lately sprung up amongst us, who endeavour to distinguish themselves by ridiculing every Thing, that has hitherto appear'd sacred and venerable in the Eyes of Mankind. Reason, Sobriety, Honour, Friendship, Marriage, are the perp.etual Subjects of their insipid Raillery: And even public Spirit, and a Regard to our Country, are treated as chimerical and romantic. Were the Schemes of these Anti-reformers to take Place, all the Bonds of Society must be broke, to make Way for the Indulgence of a licentious Mirth and Gaiety: The Companion of our drunken Frollics must be prefer'd to a Friend or Brother: Dissolute Prodigality 1[This essay appeared only in Essays, Moral and Political, vol. 2.] Essay_501-550.indd 539 12/27/11 9:21 PM 539 OF MORAL PREJCDICES must be supply'd at the Expence of every Thing valuable, either in public or private: And Men shall have so little Regard to any Thing beyond themselves, that, at last, a free Constitution of Government must become a Scheme perfectly impracticable among Mankind, and must degenerate into one universal System of Fraud and Corruption. There is another Humour, which may be observ'd in some Pretenders to Wisdom, and which, if not so pernicious as the idle petulant Humour above-mention'd, must, however, have a very bad Effect on those, who indulge it. I mean that grave philosophic Endeavour after Perfection, which, under Pretext of reforming Prejudices and Errors, strikes at all the most endearing Sentiments of the Heart, and all the most useful Byasses and Instincts, which can govern a human Creature . The Stoics were remarkable for this Folly among the Ancients; and I wish some of more venerable Characters in latter Times had not copy'd them too faithfully in this Particular. The virtuous and tender Sentiments, or Prejudices , ifyou will, have suffer'd mightily by these Reflections; while a certain sullen Pride or Contempt of Mankind has prevail'd in their Stead, and has been esteem'd the greatest Wisdom; tho', in Reality, it be the most egregious Folly of all others. Statilius being sollicited by Brutus to make one of that noble Band, who struck the GOD-like Stroke for the Liberty of Rome, refus'd to accompany them, saying, That all Men were Fools or Mad, and did not deserve that a wise Man shouldtrouble his Head about them. 2 My learned Reader will here easily recollect the Reason, which an ancient Philosopher gave, why he wou'd not be reconcil'd to his Brother, who sollicited his Friendship. He was too much a Philosopher to think, that the Connexion of having sprung from the same Parent, ought to have any Influ2 [See Plutarch's Lives, in the life of Brutus, sec. 12. According to Plutarch's account, Brutus kept the conspiracy against Caesar secret from his friend Statilius the Epicurean, because earlier, when put to the test indirectly in a discussion, Statilius had replied in the way that Hume describes.] Essay_501-550.indd 540 12/27/11 9:21 PM 540 ESSAYS WITHDRAWN ence on a reasonable Mind, and exprest his Sentiment after such a Manner as I think not proper to repeat.3 When your Friend is in Affliction, says Epictetus, you may counterfeit a Sympathy with him, if it give him Relief; but take Care not to allow any Compassion to sink into your Heart, or disturb that Tranquillity, which is the Perfection of Wisdom.4 Diogenes being askt by his Friends in his Sickness, What should be done with him after his Death? Why, says he, throw me out into the Fields. "What! reply'd they, to the Birds or Beasts." No: Place a Cudgel by me, to defend myselfwithal. "To what Purpose, say they, you will not have any Sense, nor any Power ofmaking Use of it." Then ifthe Beasts shou'd devour me, cries he, shall I be any more sensible of it.? I know none of the Sayings of that Philosopher, which shews more evidently both the Liveliness and Ferocity of his Temper.5 How different from these are the Maxims by which Eugenius conducts himself! In his Youth he apply'd himself, with the most unwearied Labour, to the Study of Philosophy; and nothing was ever able to draw him...