Instructions to a Son, Observations
Miscellaneous Observations.
GReat personages may preserve their honour without taint or crime, but not free from suspition; the first is in their own power, the second depends in the ill will of others.
Toleration is the cause of many evils, and renders diseases or distempers in the State, more strong and powerful then any remedies.
It most commonly proves true, that a Council composed of divers Nations, (such as was projected by Cromwell in England, during his usurpation, in constituting a representative of three Kingdomes in one body,) are of different judgments and tempers, though never so well pack'd together: But yet that is a far worse diversity, which proceeds from the variety of particular passions, that corrupt the fountain and source from whence the advice and counsel of publique affairs is to be drawn.
'Tis a received maxime among conspirators, not to have any thing pass between them in writing, but orally and by word of much.
Men would seem to be very jealous of their honour, when for words spoken in prejudice or diminution of it, they commence fuits and processes against the speakers of them, but there is nothing so below agenerous spirit, and which argues more weakness of mind, then that they cannot contemn words that are vain and uttered in hast. I can set my approbation to this, that I never knew any man that got advantage by so doing.
For men who have high thoughts and low fortunes, 'tis better to live privately and meanly in a village, then beggarly and disrespectedly at Court.
Men of vertue and honour steer a course contrary to that of the world, as do the planets above.
Nothing is so sociable or dissociable as man, the one is caused by nature, the other by vice.
The pleasure or grief of present things takes up the room in our thoughts of what is past, or what is to come, so infirm is the most sublimate humane reason subjected to the attempts of fortune.
Prudence ought to begin all affairs, for that repentance is to no purpose in the end, wisedome rather prepares then repairs. Wise men walk not always in the same way, not keep always the same pace, they advise according to the occurrence of affairs, and vary according to the alterations of time and interest.
It belongs to prudent men to foresee that adversity and misfortunes come not before their time, …then all the wisedome of the world cannot stay them and it appertains to valiant men, when they are come, to bear them couragiously.
Prudence without vertue, is rather subtilty and malice, yea is quite another thing then prudence.
Nothing ought to be done violently or precipitantly in reformation, you must wind up the strings gently to make them tunable, the Musick sounds a great deal sweeter, when they are looser, then when straighter wound.
He is sure not to fail, who has vertue for his guide, and fortune for his companion; but he that travails such away, must begin young, else he will come late to his journeys end.
'Tis certain, that he who deviates from truth, is in the ready way to all sorts of mischief, and it hath often been seen, that such who have laid their hopes in lying and dissembling to others, have deceived themselves, to their own ruin.
The most absolute perfection of men cannot be resembled better then to a Pomegranate, which is never without some rotten kernels.
Nothing more grieves subjects to pay Subsidies and Taxes, then when they see their money wasted or ill employed, who otherwise where they pay a penny would willingly give a crown, for they take notice that when once the door is opened to impositions, under pretence of continuing but so long time, it is seldome shut again, this is true in all tyrannical or absolute governments.
Nothing appeases or quels a sedition sooner then the presence of the Prince, nor ought he for any fear or cause whatsoever absent or hide himself, our late troubles speak this too evidently.
It is an ill practise, that they who have been the greatest sticklers in state troubles and commotions, should be the greatest gainers by the accommodation of them.
Seditions whose originals cannot be traced, are always the most dangerous.
The due correction of a mutinous people brought again to obedience, ought to be regulated by examples and means accommodated to the time, and disposition and humour of the Country; the Laws must give place to policy.
Always observe, that a paltry ordinary fellow in a great sedition is commonly the chief, and such an one is harder to be spoken or treated with, then any Prince or General.
In a civil war betwixt subjects of the same Prince, misery follows the vanquished, cruelty and impiety, haunts the conquerors, ruin and destruction both the one and the other.
That people can never be at ease, whose Prince is indebted.
Let this be a lesson to the people to contain themselves within the bounds of their duty, for by engaging in the quarrels of the great ones, they are commonly plunged in the mire, while their leaders trample over them to security.
Nothing is impossible or unfasible, for an enslaved people to do against Tyrants and Usurpers.
He that keeps himself strictly to the observation of the Divine Laws, cannot erre in the humane, and he that is a good Servant of God, will never be an ill Subject to his Prince.
Such a Prince, and such a People, I pray God for ever to maintain and continue in these Nations.
FINIS.
End of the text · Archibald Argyll, Instructions to a Son (1661)