XVI. What reason dictates is, that we should neither officiously
engage in, nor obstinately refuse entering into business, provided
we find in ourselves talents, that are apt and proper for it. If a
person can make his fortune in this line, although he does not solicit
employments, he should not refuse accepting them; because the public
is much interested, in having places of trust filled with able and
good-intentioned men. But upon a supposition, that the doctrine we have
laid down on this head, is not suited to men of such moderation, but
rather applicable to those who are somewhat affected with the malady
of ambition, and who are not fond of reading documents of morality,
but had rather study political ones: I say upon this supposition, let
us proceed in following the parallel of the two courses, by which a
man may either make his fortune, or improve that which he is already
possessed of.
XVII. All that a person can reasonably desire, may be attained without
deviating from the path of honour. A man of a clear head, accompanied
with perspicuity and prudence, will always find a way to arrive at
the goal of his pretensions, without inclining the line of rectitude
and honesty, towards the curve of deceit. Fidelity in friendship, and
sincerity in behaviour, are so far from being prejudicial, that they
afford great assistance; because with these endowments, he will gain
the confidence and good-will of such as can lend their hand to raise
him, and of those, who may be useful as instruments in helping him
forward. By being disinterested and a lover of justice, he will acquire
the esteem and affection of many, and the veneration of all men. To be
open-hearted, and to communicate with confidence in all matters, except
such as prudence dictates to you to conceal, or else, such as are
confided to you under the seal of secrecy, by those with whom you have
friendly intercourse, have a most powerful attraction. And although
this behaviour may sometimes occasion disgust, to here and there a
person of a different cast of mind; that disadvantage would be doubly
compensated for, by the good opinion, that person would entertain of
such a one when he is persuaded, that he is a man of sincerity; for the
disgust would pass away, and the good opinion would remain. In fact,
these transparent souls, when discretion is combin’d with the purity of
their dispositions, are those, who ascend to the greatest height with
the least fatigue. The theatre of nature in this particular, is an
emblem of the theatre of fortune. The diaphonous and brilliant bodies,
are those which occupy the most elevated stations in the fabric of the
globe; the gloomy, opake, and obscure ones, the lowest.
XVIII. He who finds himself aided with an apt or ready prudence, an
upright intention, and a firm loyalty, together with the qualities
we have before enumerated, has no need to be always considering and
contriving means to better his affairs. Apelles, who in every other
instance celebrated the famous painter Protogenes, pointed out a defect
in him, which was, that he never knew when to have done finishing a
picture; this shews, says Pliny, that too much diligence many times is
prejudicial: _Documentum memorabile nocere sæpe nimiam diligentiam._
When our politician finds himself on the theatre where his talents
become conspicuous, expedients occur to him without much thought or
study. An officious left-handed competitor may happen to dispute
the palm with him, but it will be at the expence of a great deal of
additional toil and labour. The cunning snake may arrive at the same
eminence, to which the generous eagle aspires to mount, but with how
much fatigue? The character and properties of a low politician, cannot
be better displayed, than under the figure of a snake, the side way
and oblique motion with which he goes on, points out the deceit he
proceeds with; his breast fix’d to the earth, shews his adherence to
self-interest; the various inflexions and foldings of his body, are
descriptive of his crooked soul; and his conceal’d venom, denotes the
evil intention he hides. O serpent! what pains does it cost you to
better your situation, only because thou art a snake; while at the same
time, the eagle with a careless and an easy flight, ascends to the top
of Olympus.