states; but he will use them for practical purposes, even as a pilot
uses astronomy, and a physician natural philosophy. For both these men
bring their theoretical science to bear on the practice of their arts;
and our statesman [should do the same with the science of politics, and
make it subservient to the actual interests of philanthropy and
patriotism]. * * *

IV. * * * In states in which good men desire glory and approbation, and
shun disgrace and ignominy. Nor are such men so much alarmed by the
threats and penalties of the law as by that sentiment of shame with
which nature has endowed man, which is nothing else than a certain fear
of deserved censure. The wise director of a government strengthens this
natural instinct by the force of public opinion, and perfects it by
education and manners. And thus the citizens are preserved from vice
and corruption rather by honor and shame than by fear of punishment.
But this argument will be better illustrated when we treat of the love
of glory and praise, which we shall discuss on another occasion.

V. As respects the private life and the manners of the citizens, they
are intimately connected with the laws that constitute just marriages
and legitimate offspring, under the protection of the guardian deities
around the domestic hearths. By these laws, all men should be
maintained in their rights of public and private property. It is only
under a good government like this that men can live happily--for
nothing can be more delightful than a well-constituted state.

On which account it appears to me a very strange thing what this * * *

VI. I therefore consume all my time in considering what is
the power of that man, whom, as you think, we have described
carefully enough in our books. Do you, then, admit our idea
of that governor of a commonwealth to whom we wish to refer
everything? For thus, I imagine, does Scipio speak in the
fifth book: "For as a fair voyage is the object of the master
of a ship, the health of his patient the aim of a physician,
and victory that of a general, so the happiness of his
fellow-citizens is the proper study of the ruler of a
commonwealth; that they may be stable in power, rich in
resources, widely known in reputation, and honorable through
their virtue. For a ruler ought to be one who can perfect
this, which is the best and most important employment among
mankind."