Book V.
Chap. 3.The love of equality in a democracy, limits ambition to the sole desire, the sole happiness of doing greater services to our country than the rest of our fellow citizens. They cannot all render her equal services, but they ought all to serve her with equal alacrity. At our coming into the world, we contract an immense debt to our country, which we can never discharge.
Hence distinctions arise here from the principle of equality, even when it seems to be removed by signal services, or superior abilities.
The love of frugality limits the desire of having to the attention requisite for procuring necessaries to our family, and superfluities to our country. Riches give a power which a citizen cannot use for himself, for then he would be no longer equal. They likewise procure pleasures which he ought not to enjoy, because these would also subvert the equality.
Thus well regulated democracies, by establishing domestic frugality, made way at the same time for public expences, as was the case at Rome and Athens, when munificence and profusion arose from the very fund of frugality. And as religion requires us to have pure and unspotted hands when we make our offerings to the Gods, the laws require a frugality of life to enable us to be liberal to our country.
The good sense and happiness of individuals depend greatly on the mediocrity of their talents and fortunes. Therefore as a republic, where the laws have placed many in a middling station, is composed of wise men, it will be wifely governed; as it is composed of happy men, it will be extremely happy.
