The universe must be considered as a system of kindred communion
or association. But every system consists of certain dissimilar
contraries, and is coarranged with reference to one certain thing,
which is the most excellent, and also with a view to a general
benefit. For that which is denominated a choir, is a system of
musical communion, and is referred to one certain common thing, a
concert of voices. Farther still, the system of body about a ship
consists of certain dissimilar and contrary things, and is coarranged
with reference to one thing which is best, viz. the pilot, and also
with a view to a common benefit, a prosperous navigation. Thus, too,
a family, being a system of kindred communion, consists of certain
dissimilars, which are its proper parts; and is coarranged with a
view to one thing which is best, viz. the father of the family; and
is referred to a common advantage, unanimity. And, in short, every
family, in the same manner as a psaltery[26], requires these three
things, apparatus, coadaptation, and a certain contrectation, and
musical use. Apparatus, indeed, being the composition of all its
parts, from which the whole, and all the system of kindred communion
derives its completion. But of the parts of a family there are two
first and greatest divisions; viz. man and possessions, the latter
of which is the thing governed, and affords utility. Thus, also,
the first and greatest parts of an animal are soul and body; and
soul, indeed, is that which governs and uses, but the body is that
which is governed, and imparts utility. And possessions, indeed,
are the adscititious instruments of human life; but the body is the
connascent and allied instrument of the soul. Of those persons,
however, that give completion to a family, some are consanguineous,
but others have an affinity to the family. And those that are
kindred are generated from the same blood, or have the same origin
from those who first disseminated the race. But those that have
an affinity have an adscititious alliance, as commencing from the
communion of wedlock. And these are either fathers or brothers,
or maternal or paternal grandfathers, or some other of those
relatives that are produced by marriage. But if the good arising
from friendship is also to be referred to a family (for thus it will
become greater and more magnificent, not only through an abundance
of wealth and many relations, but also through numerous friends); in
this case it is evident, that the family will thus become more ample,
and that the social species of friendship is to be enumerated among
things which are requisite to the completion of a family. But of
possessions some are necessary, and others are of a liberal nature.
And the necessary, indeed, are those which are subservient to the
wants of life; and the liberal are such as lead a man to an elegant
and well arranged mode of living, so that he may not be in want of
other things. _Such things, however, as exceed what is requisite
to a liberal and elegant mode of life, are, at the beginning, the
roots to men of wanton insolence, and destruction. For those that
have great possessions are necessarily at first inflated with pride,
and when thus inflated become arrogant; and, being arrogant, they
also become fastidious, and conceive that their kindred, and those
of the same nation and tribe with themselves, neither resemble, nor
are equal to them. But when they are fastidious, they also become
wantonly insolent. And the extremity and end of all wanton insolence
is destruction._ When, therefore, in a family and city there is a
superfluity of possessions, it is necessary that the legislator
should cut off, and, as it were, amputate the superfluities, in
the same manner as a good husbandman lops the too luxuriant leaves
of trees. But of the kindred and domestic part of man there is a
triple species. For there is one species which governs, another
which is governed, and another which gives assistance to a family
and relatives. And the husband, indeed, governs, but the wife is
governed, and the offspring of both these is an auxiliary.