第38章

Andthatsuchashavemultitudeofpotentkindred，andpopularmenthathavegainedreputationamongstthemultitude，takecouragetoviolatethelawsfromahopeofoppressingthepowertowhomitbelongedtoputtheminexecution。

Andthatsuchashaveagreatandfalseopinionoftheirownwisdomtakeuponthemtoreprehendtheactionsandcallinquestiontheauthorityofthemthatgovern，andsotounsettlethelawswiththeirpublicdiscourse，asthatnothingshallbeacrimebutwhattheirowndesignsrequireshouldbeso。Ithappenethalsotothesamementobepronetoallsuchcrimesasconsistincraft，andindeceivingoftheirneighbours；becausetheythinktheirdesignsaretoosubtletobeperceived。TheseIsayareeffectsofafalsepresumptionoftheirownwisdom。ForofthemthatarethefirstmoversinthedisturbanceofCommonwealth(whichcanneverhappenwithoutacivilwar)，veryfewareleftalivelongenoughtoseetheirnewdesignsestablished：sothatthebenefitoftheircrimesredoundethtoposterityandsuchaswouldleasthavewishedit：whicharguestheywerenotsowiseastheythoughttheywere。Andthosethatdeceiveuponhopeofnotbeingobserveddocommonlydeceivethemselves，thedarknessinwhichtheybelievetheyliehiddenbeingnothingelsebuttheirownblindness，andarenowiserthanchildrenthatthinkallhidbyhidingtheirowneyes。

Andgenerallyallvaingloriousmen，unlesstheybewithaltimorous，aresubjecttoanger；asbeingmorepronethanotherstointerpretforcontempttheordinarylibertyofconversation：andtherearefewcrimesthatmaynotbeproducedbyanger。

Asforthepassions，ofhate，lust，ambition，andcovetousness，whatcrimestheyareapttoproduceissoobvioustoeveryman’sexperienceandunderstandingasthereneedethnothingtobesaidofthem，savingthattheyareinfirmities，soannexedtothenature，bothofmanandallotherlivingcreatures，asthattheireffectscannotbehinderedbutbyextraordinaryuseofreason，oraconstantseverityinpunishingthem。Forinthosethingsmenhate，theyfindacontinualandunavoidablemolestation；wherebyeitheraman’spatiencemustbeeverlasting，orhemustbeeasedbyremovingthepowerofthatwhichmolestethhim：theformerisdifficult；thelatterismanytimesimpossiblewithoutsomeviolationofthelaw。Ambitionandcovetousnessarepassionsalsothatareperpetuallyincumbentandpressing；whereasreasonisnotperpetuallypresenttoresistthem：

andthereforewhensoeverthehopeofimpunityappears，theireffectsproceed。Andforlust，whatitwantsinthelasting，ithathinthevehemence，whichsufficethtoweighdowntheapprehensionofalleasyoruncertainpunishments。

Ofallpassions，thatwhichinclinethmenleasttobreakthelawsisfear。Nay，exceptingsomegenerousnatures，itistheonlything(whenthereisappearanceofprofitorpleasurebybreakingthelaws)thatmakesmenkeepthem。Andyetinmanycasesacrimemaybecommittedthroughfear。

Fornoteveryfearjustifiestheactionitproduceth，butthefearonlyofcorporealhurt，whichwecallbodilyfear，andfromwhichamancannotseehowtobedeliveredbutbytheaction。Amanisassaulted，fearspresentdeath，fromwhichheseesnothowtoescapebutbywoundinghimthatassaultethhim；ifhewoundhimtodeath，thisisnocrime，becausenomanissupposed，atthemakingofaCommonwealthtohaveabandonedthedefenceofhislifeorlimbs，wherethelawcannotarrivetimeenoughtohisassistance。ButtokillamanbecausefromhisactionsorhisthreateningsImayarguehewillkillmewhenhecan(seeingIhavetimeandmeanstodemandprotectionfromthesovereignpower)isacrime。Again，amanreceiveswordsofdisgrace，orsomelittleinjuries，forwhichtheythatmadethelawshadassignednopunishment，northoughtitworthyofamanthathaththeuseofreasontotakenoticeof，andisafraidunlessherevengeitheshallfallintocontempt，andconsequentlybeobnoxioustothelike