"IT is an old established Maxim in Politicks, that a true-bred Statesman should have no private Passions; that is, He ought to be a Man of such a sedate, steddy, and determined Temper, that he may not be interrupted, in the Conduct of his Schemes and the Pursuit of his Interest, by those light and sudden Passions, which are apt to agitate and ruffle weak Minds."
— Caleb d'Anvers [pseud. for Nicholas Amhurst, Henry, Viscount Bolingbroke, and William Pulteney, Earl of Bath]
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Date
Friday, February 24, 1727
Metaphor
"IT is an old established Maxim in Politicks, that a true-bred Statesman should have no private Passions; that is, He ought to be a Man of such a sedate, steddy, and determined Temper, that he may not be interrupted, in the Conduct of his Schemes and the Pursuit of his Interest, by those light and sudden Passions, which are apt to agitate and ruffle weak Minds."
Metaphor in Context
IT is an old established Maxim in Politicks, that a true-bred Statesman should have no private Passions; that is, He ought to be a Man of such a sedate, steddy, and determined Temper, that he may not be interrupted, in the Conduct of his Schemes and the Pursuit of his Interest, by those light and sudden Passions, which are apt to agitate and ruffle weak Minds. Nay, some grave Reasoners and Refiners upon this Subject have gone farther, and maintain'd that a stanch Politician ought not only to be exempt from Intemperance, Effeminacy, and other common Frailties of human Nature; but should also enfranchize his Mind from the Dominion of what are commonly call'd the nobler Passions; that he should be incapable of Love or Hatred; that he should not suffer himself to be sway'd by any vulgar Notions of Gratitude, Honour or Justice; nor be tempted to desist from the Execution of his Designs by the frail Impulses of Pity and Remorse; that he should have no Regard to Friends, Relations or Benefactors, when it interferes with his private Views; nor resent, as other Men do, the most provoking Injuries or the highest Obligations, when his Interest that great ruling Principle) instructs him to forget ther.
(pp. 133-4)
(pp. 133-4)
Categories
Provenance
Searching in ECCO-TCP
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
