man a social, not steady nature. Drawn to man by words, repelled by passions. Orb drawn by attraction rep. [repelled] by centrifugal.
'Common danger unites by crushing other passions—but they return. Equality hinders compliance. Superiority produces insolence and envy. Too much regard in each to private interest—too little.
'The mischiefs of private and exclusive societies—the fitness of social attraction diffused through the whole. The mischiefs of too partial love of our country. Contraction of moral duties—ὄι φιλοι ου φιλος[1].
'Every man moves upon his own center, and therefore repels others from too near a contact, though he may comply with some general laws.
'Of confederacy with superiours, every one knows the inconvenience. With equals, no authority;—ever man his own opinion—his own interest.
'Man and wife hardly united;—scarce ever without children. Computation, if two to one against two, how many against five? If confederacies were easy—useless;—many oppresses many.—If possible only to some, dangerous. Principum amicitias[2].'
Here we see the embryo of Number 45 of The Adventurer; and it is a confirmation of what I shall presently have occasion to mention[3], that the papers in that collection marked T. were written by Johnson.
- ↑ In the first edition this is printed ᾠ φιλοι ου φιλος; in the second, ᾠ φιλοι ου φιλος; in the 'Corrections' to the second, we find 'for ᾠ read οἴ;' in the third it is printed as above. In three editions we have therefore five readings of the first word. See Post, April 15, 1778, where Johnson says: 'An old Greek said, "He that has friends has no friend,"' and April 24, 1779, where he says: 'Garrick had friends but no friend.'
- ↑
- ↑ Post, under Jan. 1, 1753.
