’Tis a Folly, to the Highest Degree, for Men to run the Risque of their
Lives and Fortunes, by Entering into Leagues with the Weak, against an
Adversary that is Manifestly too Strong for them Both. ’Tis Hazardous to
Contract Unequal Friendships and Alliances, and there’s an Inequality of
Disposition and Humour, as well as of Power. The False are as Dangerous
as the Fearful: Only with this Difference, that the One will do a Man
Hurt, and the Other can do him no Good. The End of Leagues is Common
Assistance and Defence; And he that joyns Interest with those that cannot
Help him, stands as single as he did before; which destroys the End of a
Common Union; for where there’s no Hope of a Reciprocal Aid, there can be
no Reason for a Mutual Obligation: And it is the same Thing in Bus’ness,
Councel, and Commerce, that it is in Arms and Force. The Case of the
_Hares_ and _Foxes_ in a Confederacy against the _Eagles_, is a Common
Case betwixt Kingdoms and Common-wealths.