Page:A discourse upon the origin and foundation of the inequality among mankind (IA discourseuponori00rous).pdf/135

where the Care of our own Preſervation interferes leaſt with the Preſervation of others, was of courſe the moſt favourable to Peace, and moſt ſuitable to Mankind; whereas he advances the very reverſe in conſequence of his having injudiciouſly admitted, as Objects of that Care which Savage Man ſhould take of his Preſervation, the Satisfaction of numberleſs Paſſions which are the work of Society, and have rendered Laws neceſſary. A bad Man, ſays he, is a robuſt Child. But this is not proving that Savage Man is a robuſt Child; and tho' we were to grant that he was, what could this Philoſopher infer from ſuch a Conceſſion? That if this Man, when robuſt, depended on others as much as when feeble, there is no Exceſs that he would not be guilty of. He would make nothing of ſtriking his Mother when ſhe delayed ever ſo little to give him the Breaſt; he would claw, and bite, and ſtrangle without remorſe