There’s nothing Commoner in this World then the Case of the Mole here and
the Weazle: That is to say, the Case of the People that Value themselves
mightily upon Merit; when in the mean time they do only their own
Business. What Virtue is it for me to do another Man good by Chance; or
where’s the Obligation of doing it for my own Profit? ’Tis the Will of
a Man that qualifies the Action. A Body may do me Good, and yet Deserve
to be Punish’d for’t. He may save my Life, for the purpose, with an
Intention to take it away. There is however some Regard to be had to the
very Instrument that Providence makes use of for our Advantage. But this
is out of a Respect to the Providence, not to the Man: And we are not
yet come up to the Force of the Fable neither; for many People have the
Confidence to Plead Merit, when Effectually they do us Mischief.