Page:A discourse upon the origin and foundation of the inequality among mankind (IA discourseuponori00rous).pdf/273

having cauſed a Workman to be puniſhed, who, ſelling his Coffins very dear, was a great Gainer by the Deaths of his Fellow Citizens: But Montaigne's Reaſon being, that by the ſame Rule every Man ſhould be puniſhed, it is plain that it confirms my Argument. Let us therefore look thro' our frivolous Demonſtrations of Benevolence at what paſſes in the inmoſt Receſſes of the Heart, and reflect on what muſt be that State of Things, in which Men are forced with the ſame Breath to careſs and curſe each other, and in which they are born, Enemies by Duty, and Knaves by Intereſt. Perhaps ſomebody will object that Society is ſo formed, that every Man gains by ſerving the reſt. It may be ſo, but does he not gain ſtill more by injuring them? There is no lawful Profit but what is greatly exceeded by what may be unlawfully made, and we always gain more by hurting our Neighbours than by doing them good. The only Objection therefore, that now remains, is the Difficulty which Malefactors find in ſcreening themſelves from Puniſhment, and it is to accompliſh this, that the Powerful employ all their Strength, and the Weak all their Cunning.