Fruits of Solitude; In Reflections and Maxims Relating to the Conduct of Human Life - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1877 edition. Excerpt: ... sentence is not guided by the person, but the cause. 410. The impartial judge, in judgment, knows nothing but the law; the prince, no more than the peasant; his kindred, than a stranger. Nay, his enemy is sure to be upon equal terms with his friend, when he is upon the bench. 411. Impartiality is the life of justice, as that is of government. 412. Nor is it only a benefit to the state; for private families cannot subsist comfortably without it. 413. Parents that are partial, are ill obeyed by their children; and partial masters not better served by their servants. 414. Partiality is always indirect, if not dishonest; for it shows a bias, where reason would have none; if not an injury, which justice everywhere forbids. 415. As it makes favourites without reason, so it uses no reason in judging of actions: confirming the proverb, "The crow thinks her own bird the fairest." 416. What some see to be no fault in one, they will have criminal in another. 417. Nay, how ugly do our failings look to us in the persons of others which yet we see not in ourselves. 418. And but too common it is, for some people not to know their own maxims and principles in the mouths of other men, when they give occasion to use them. 419. Partiality corrupts our judgment of persons and things, of ourselves and others. 420. It contributes more than anything to factions in the government, and feuds in families. 421. It is a prodigal passion, that seldom returns till it is hunger-bit, and disappointments bring it within bounds. 422. And yet we may be indifferent to a fault. Indifference. 423. Indifference is good in judgment, but bad in relation, and stark naught in religion. 424. And even in judgment, our indifference must be to the persons, not causes; for...