ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 223 



observe in the cruel conduct of Lucius Brutus to his own sons, 

 which by the generality was extolled to the skies ; yet another 



said, 



" Infelix, utcunque ferent ea facta minores." Virgil./ 



So in the discourse betwixt Brutus, Cassius, and others, as to 

 the conspiracy against Caesar, the question was artfully intro- 

 duced whether it were lawful to kill a tyrant ; m the company 

 divided in their opinions about it, some saying it was lawful, 

 and that slavery was the greatest of evils ; others denying it, 

 and asserting tyranny to be less destructive than civil war, 

 whilst a third kind, as if followers of Epicurus, made it an un- 

 worthy thing that wise men should endanger themselves for 

 fools. But the cases of comparative duties are numerous, 

 among which this question frequently occurs, whether justice 

 may be strained for the safety of one's country, or the like con- 

 siderable good in future ? as to which Jason the Thessalian 

 used to say, Some things must be done unjustly, that many 

 more may be done justly. But the answer is ready Present 

 justice is in our power, but of future justice we have no security : 

 let men pursue those things which are good and just at pres- 

 ent, and leave futurity to Divine providence.** And thus much 

 for the doctrine of the image of good. 



CHAPTER III 



The Culture of the Mind divided into the Knowledge of Characteristic 

 Differences of Affections, of Remedies and Cures. Appendix re- 

 lating to the Harmony between the Pleasures of the Mind and 

 the Body 



We next proceed to the cultivation of the mind, without 

 which the preceding part of morality is no more than an image 

 or beautiful statue, without life or motion. Aristotle expressly 

 acknowledges as much " It is, therefore, necessary," says he, 

 " to speak of virtue, what it is, and whence it proceeds ; for it 

 were in a manner useless to know virtue, and yet be ignorant 

 of the ways to acquire her."o Concerning virtue, therefore, 

 we must ascertain both what kind it is and by what means it 

 may be acquired ; for we desire a knowledge of the thing itself 

 and the manner of procuring its pleasures.* And though he 

 has more than once repeated the same thing, yet himself does 



