"The strongest Arguments leave no Impression on his Mind, and the clearest Truth has no Charms in his Eyes."
— Caleb d'Anvers [pseud. for Nicholas Amhurst, Henry, Viscount Bolingbroke, and William Pulteney, Earl of Bath]
Work Title
Date
Friday, February 1727
Metaphor
"The strongest Arguments leave no Impression on his Mind, and the clearest Truth has no Charms in his Eyes."
Metaphor in Context
But the Case is quite otherwise with Those, who make themselves popular by venal and corrupt Methods. Money, the Root of all Evil, is also the strongest Cement in the World. It binds together Persons of the most opposite Complexions, and is a more lasting Tie than Honour, Friendship, Relation, Consanguinity or Unity of Affections. When any Person therefore takes an annual or other Salary for giving his Opinion that black is white, it is in vain for us to endeavour to convince him of the contrary. Persuasion to such a Man is of no effect, and Reasoning is thrown away upon him. The strongest Arguments leave no Impression on his Mind, and the clearest Truth has no Charms in his Eyes. He is inlisted in the Service of his Patron, and must always fight on that Side, let the Cause be what it will, from which he receives his Pay. It is ridiculous to talk of Right to a Man, who is præ-engaged, and hired to judge wrong; or to argue about Justice, Conscience, and Equity with one, who has tasted the Sweets of acting upon different Principles.
(pp. 125-6)
(pp. 125-6)
Categories
Provenance
Searching in Google Books
Citation
Text from The Craftsman. By Caleb D'Anvers, of Gray's-Inn, Esq. (London: Printed for R. Francklin, 1731). <Link to Google Books>
Date of Entry
11/12/2013
