Nothing so much exposes a man's weak side, and lays him so open to an
enemy, as passion and malice. He whose attention is wholly fixed upon
forming a project of revenge, is ignorant of the mischiefs that may be
hatching against him from some other quarter, and, upon the attack, is
unprovided with the means of defending or securing himself. How are the
members of a commonwealth sometimes divided amongst themselves, and
inspired with rancour and malice to the last degree; and often upon as
great a trifle as that which was the subject matter of debate between
the Frog and the Mouse; not for any real advantage, but merely who shall
get the better in the dispute? But such animosities, as insignificant
and trifling as they may be among themselves, are yet of the last
importance to their enemies, by giving them many fair opportunities of
falling upon them, and reducing them to misery and slavery. O Britons,
when will ye be wise! when will ye throw away the ridiculous
distinctions of party, those ends of bulrushes, and by a prudent union
secure yourselves in a state of peace and prosperity! A state, of which,
if it were not for your intolerably foolish and unnecessary divisions at
home, all the powers upon earth could never deprive you.