Sir TKIliltiam {Temple 87 



precept, to abstain from beans, by which the 

 affairs or public resolutions in Athens were 

 managed. They thought that sort of business 

 too gross and material for the abstracted fine- 

 ness of their speculations. They esteemed it 

 too sordid and too artificial for the cleanness 

 and simplicity of their manners and lives. 

 They would have no part in the faults of a gov- 

 ernment ; and they knew too well, that the 

 nature and passions of men made them incapa- 

 ble of any that was perfect and good ; and 

 therefore thought all the service they could do 

 to the state they lived under, was to mend the 

 lives and manners of particular men that com- 

 posed it. But where factions were once entered 

 and rooted in a state, they thought it madness 

 for good men to meddle with public affairs ; 

 which made them turn their thoughts and enter- 

 tainments to any thing rather than this ; and 

 Heraclitus, having, upon the factions of the 

 citizens, quitted the government of his city, and 

 amusing himself to play with the boys in the 

 porch of the temple, asked those who wondered 

 at him, whether it was not better to play with 

 such boys, than govern such men. But above 

 all, they esteemed public business the most 

 contrary of all others to that tranquillity of 

 mind which they esteemed and taught to be 

 the only true felicity of man. 



