316 Thoughts on PUBLIC CREDIT, 
little on the virtues of a people. A wife minider will cer- 
tainly not calculate upon virtues which do not exist. But we 
fee that truth maintains its empire in the world : there are 
times, efpecially in great extremities, when it darts fuch beams 
of light, that men are compelled to confefs its power, and 
adore the god from whom it flows. 
We muff grant that mankind are governed more by their 
passions, than by their reason ; and it follows from that very 
caufe, that a fkilful miniffer will obferve which are the paf- 
lions mod prevalent in the minds of the people, either in the 
ordinary courfe of their lives, or as they are affedted under 
particular circumfiances. — The love of money, whether it 
regards the raging third: of avarice, or the feverish habit 
of luxury, is apt to grow into a passion. In neither of thefe 
cafes, will a free people, in the gaiety or zeal of the heart, be 
induced to give any confiderable part of their riches, never to 
receive either principal or interest. So long as they think 
the first can be fecured to them, and their children ; and that 
the last will remain as a conftant revenue for their own lives, 
it mud be expedled that they will be tenacious. But be- 
caufe they are free, if once they fee themfelves in danger, the 
ruling passion will prevail, and they will fhew a greater love 
for their liberty, than for their money. The prefent objedt 
of pleasure, or pain, generally drikes mod forcibly. Hope, 
as it refpedts joys in reverdon, is a very strong, as well as a 
very pleasing padion : but fear, the fear of differing the de- 
privation either of fortune, liberty, or life, will make a deeper 
impredion. Is it then absurd to expedt that thefe padions, co- 
2 operating 
