[clx. 265]

1822 July 11

Constitut. Code Rationale

Securities for I. Moral

6 Factitious honor excled

It marks him out as a man who was by birth an enemy to the interest and happiness of the greatest number a member of the privileged class: namely of a class comprized of those whose common interest is a particular and sinister interest opposite to the universal interest.

He who is at one time an enemy may at another time be a friend. But he who is by birth an enemy can not on any sufficient grounds be regarded as a friend, unless and until, and in so far as by such means as the nature of the case affords, he has made known the change. Of this change one conclusive sufficient and conclusive proof the nature of the case affords: and that is a surrender of the privilege.

In this way and no other /means alone/ he renders it manifest that by him his interest is identified /in coincidence/ with the universal interest his affections with the affections of the greatest number of the members of the community in question - that in his eyes the affection esteem and respect which is the result of judgment unperverted by any cause /source/ of delusion from any source is preferred to that respect which is the joint offspring of sinister interest, caprice fraud imposture and chance.