date

1823 Feb 10 Greek Constitution Observations
1823 Feb 10

Greek Constitution Observations

Principles

?.1. Self©regard predominant

In mankind in general, desire of acquiring fresh and fresh addition to the stock a man has of the external instruments of felicity grows stronger and stronger as the quantity of those that appear to him within his reach is greater and greater.

Of the aggregrate stock of the external instruments of felicity in the possession of the political community in question the quantity which its ruling functionaries take in the aggregate have within their reach is in a manner unlimited: to the ardency of their, desire to make the utmost possible addition to that portion of the stock which they respectively possess as their own property for /to/ their own use is in like manner unlimited.

At the time and on the occasion of its formation every Constitution taken in the sense here in question has two great difficulties to contend with extrinsic and intrinsic: self©regarding affection on the part of other political communities, and self©regarding affection /the like affection/ on the part of its own functionaries.

To the existence and force Of the danger resulting /threatening/ /impending/ from without the members of the new[?] Community never fail to be in an adequately degree sensible: they are accordingly [...?] and constantly upon their guard against it

But of the danger impending from within never in any instance have they yet, nor till at the end of a long course of sad experience are ever like to be in any thing approaching to an adequate degree sensible.
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  • Title: [1823 Feb. 10 Greek Constitution Observations]
    Description: 1823 Feb. 10

    Greek Constitution Observations

    Principles

    ?1. Self©regard predominant

    1. Self©regard. 2. Sympathy. 3. Antipathy

    In the nature /breast/ of every man considered with reference to any and every other there are three sorts of affections 1 self©regard 2. social sympathy. 3. antisocial antipathy. Self©regard desire of his own happiness is in constant exercise: sympathetic regard regard for the happiness in frequent but less constant exercise antipathetic regard © regard for the unhappiness of others in still less frequent exercise.

    In the ordinary course of life, the influence of self©regard is stronger and more efficient than that of those two extra©regarding affections put together

    In self©regard is included the desire of possessing, to an amount /in a quantity/ altogether unlimited, the several external instruments of human felicity, which thence may be also stiled the ”objects of general desire• © and by some /certain/ religionists have been designated by the appellation of the good things of this world.

    These are 1. the matter of wealth in its several shapes 2. power in its several shapes: and to these are added under most governments have been added 3. factitious dignity in its several shapes

    With the exception of such portions of wealth as have been acquired by the immediate fruits his own labour, or of the labour of others given /made over/ to him freely, in exchange for the like fruits in other shapes, or gratuitously, no human being can obtain any portion of the matter of wealth but at the expence of all others and more particularly at the expence of the last proprietors

    Considered in this point of view every human being has in every other an /a possible/ enemy.

    On the other hand, the quantity which by any single exertions of his own a man would be /is/ able to obtain of these same instruments is small indeed compared with what it is in his power to obtain by the help of the exertions of others living with /behaving towards/ him in a state of [...?]

    Considered in this view every human being has in every other a possible friend and helpmate.
  • Title: [1823 Feb. 10 Greek Constitution Observation]
    Description: 1823 Feb. 10 Greek Constitution Observation Principles ?.1 Self©regard

    predominant Contrary assurance universal ?.2 Self sacrifice how far exemplified

    In every political community new as well as old, old as well as new this danger

    is not merely a danger impending, but an evil constantly operating and

    constantely extending, or at least striving to extend itself.

    From the ruling few the subject many are continually receiving the assurance

    that in the breast of /by/ each the felicity of all the others has constantly

    the preference over his own is an object pursued to the exclusion of, or at the

    least in preference to his own.

    In this assurance if in any instance there has been a particle of truth, the

    instances are so rare that for the purposes of any practical conclusion and

    practical arrangement to be taken in consequence, they may be laid out of the

    account altogether and without any evil consequence

    On /In/ the part /breasts/ of ruling functionaries in general the proportion

    between the strength self©regarding affection and that social affection which

    has for its object the aggregate body of the community in question is naturally

    subjected to variation by divers circumstances

    No new State has ever yet been formed but at a time of general danger and

    proportionate excitation. The time during which this danger is at the highest is

    the time at which the felicity of each individual member whether in the

    situation of ruling functionary or only in that of subject citizen is in the

    highest degree dependent on that of the whole: his property, his power, his

    personal liberty, his very life he beholds /he feels] to be/ is a state of

    constant and immediate dependence upon the existence and power of the whole.
  • Title: [1823 Feb. 10 Greek Constitution Observations]
    Description: 1823 Feb. 10

    Greek Constitution Observations

    Principles

    ?.1 Self©regard predominant

    ?.2. Self©sacrifice how far exemplified

    In this state of things it is, if in any, that he feels really disposed to make sacrifice to an amount over and above those which he can not help making at the expence of his own particular interest to the universal interest: and in this state of things there are no bounds to the sacrifices of this kind which, in this /in a certain/ state of excitation this or that man may not be /feel really/ disposed to make. In the sacrifice of life the sacrifice of the instruments of felicity all of them together is included: and of the disposition to make this all©comprehensive sacrifice instances are not altogether wanting as the instances in which it has actually and accordingly instances scattered as they are over the pages of history in no inconsiderable abundance sufficiently shew.

    Having at this or that critical moment had within his own breast experience of the actual propensity to this heroic sacrifice, the wonder would not be great, if, little as men are in the habit of any thing like an impartial scrutiny into the state and contents of their own minds a man should here and there have been in existence, by whom the assertion of a constant habit of preferring on every occasion, in case of competition, and to the extent of such competition the universal interest to his own particular and self©regarding interest has been believed to be true.

    Be this as it may an assertion to this sort either explicit or implied is on all occasions to be found on all occasions in the language /discourse/, oral and written of ruling functionaries of all classes in /under/ governments of all kinds: and in no instance is it to be found more decided and more vehement than in those in which as demonstrated action /actual conduct/ it has been furthest from being true, and on the part of those by whom it has been thus allowed accompanied with the most perfect [...?] of its being compleatly false.