XXXIX. What we have just said, was not intended as an objection against
giving the preference to the nobility in appointments to places of
dignity and honour, but was only meant, as an argument against their
being conferred on them, as a reward for the merits of their ancestors.
I do not oppose the thing, but the motive for doing it; for I am rather
of opinion, the public utility, the advancement of which, and not
rewarding the services of others, should be the leading consideration
to direct in making those appointments, would be better answered, by
prefering the nobleman to the person of inferior rank, not only in
cases of equality of virtue between the parties, but also where their
difference in birth is great, and the disproportion in point of virtue
but small; and this, for four weighty and important reasons.
XL. The first is, you would avoid by this means, multiplying the number
of priviledged persons within a state. If it was frequent and common,
to fill posts of consequence with people of humble birth, because they
were virtuous and able; as from the elevation of these, would result
that of their posterity; in the course of a century and a half, you
would create a great multitude of fresh nobility, which is extremely
prejudicial to a community; because in proportion as you lessen the
number of those, who should apply themselves to business, and the
improvement and cultivation of land; you would lessen the assistance of
useful people; or what is worse, you would over-load with the burden of
the others, such as were dedicated to these employments.
XLI. The second is, because in posts of dignity, a nobleman is obeyed
with more resignation, readiness, and good-will, than a person of
humble extraction; which is a matter of great importance in every
kind of government. What disturbances have been occasioned, by the
repugnance men find in obeying the commands of him, who they saw
yesterday wear a plain coarse coat, and they see to-day cloath’d with
purple; their obedience is sometimes slow, at others ill exerted, and
at others not performed at all. The love, or at least the interior
condescension with which those who serve, obey him who commands, is
extremely useful and necessary in every kind of business. Many fine
projects have vanished in smoke, because the instruments appointed to
apply the means of executing them, have, stimulated by an occult envy
of their superior, wished they should not succeed.
The want of sufferance and condescension in the inferiors, is succeeded
by abhorrence and hatred in him who commands, with respect to them; and
when he and they, reciprocally come to regard each other as enemies,
there is no sort of confusion and danger, that may not be considered as
near at hand.
XLII. The third is, because it is much more to be apprehended, that
the virtue of an humble person is feigned, than that of a nobleman.
The vice of hypocrisy may be said to be allied, or in a manner annexed
to narrow fortune; for poor people are under a necessity of concealing
their defects; and are obliged, in order to better their lot, to have
recourse to the trivial expedient, of putting on the semblance of
virtue. On the contrary, opulence and illustrious birth, naturally
give relief and enlargement to the mind. People that are ennobled, are
generally what they appear to be, because neither necessity nor fear,
obliges them to make ostentation of virtues they do not possess.
XLIII. The fourth and last is, that admitting there should not be
the least doubt of the truth and reality of an humble man’s virtue,
there is always great danger of his losing it by his exaltation. Great
leaps of fortune are exceedingly perilous. Those from lofty stations
downwards are very hazardous, because in consequence of them, the
honour and properties of men may be dashed to pieces; but those from
below upwards are more to be dreaded, for they are commonly attended
with the destruction and loss of the soul. Every virtuous man, before
he is raised from the dust to dignities, should find sureties for his
continuing to act uprightly; for the soul by such a transition, is
translated to a very different climate; and a very unwholesome one for
customs and manners. Many have the seeds of various vices so deeply
buried in their temperaments, as even to be concealed from their own
eyes, till opportunities and occasions cause them to grow and sprout
out. It is rare to find a man of low extraction, who is cruel and
proud; and very rare to meet with one who is covetous; for he is so far
from being excited by vices which he has no materials to supply the
cravings of, that he scarce ever thinks of them; and how should he fix
his attention on the superfluous, who is in want of what is precisely
necessary for him? To find out whether such a person is tainted with
the two first vices, you should place him in authority; and to discover
whether he is infected with the third, you should give him a portion of
riches. In fact, these three vices have been most frequently remarked
in those, who were raised from humble to exalted fortune, although
before their elevation, they did not shew the least signs of being
tainted with them, or any others.
XLIV. For these reasons, I am of opinion, that a person of humble
extraction, should never be preferred to a nobleman or man of family,
to fill posts of dignity and honour, except, where the excess of
virtue in the first shall be found to be very great. But in the
military line, we should make an exception to this rule, for valour,
and skill in the art of war, are requisites of great importance in
executing and conducting military business; nor can they be lost by a
man’s advancement, or counterfeited by hypocrisy. On the other hand,
these endowments, for the purpose of exciting respect and obedience
in those who are to be commanded, sufficiently supply the want of
splendid origin in him who commands; and finally, a great warrior
makes double amends to a state for the injury that is sustained by it,
by planting therein a new stock of nobility. So that by adverting to
these precautions, the four inconveniences we have pointed out would be
avoided.