Page:A discourse upon the origin and foundation of the inequality among mankind (IA discourseuponori00rous).pdf/51



HE mot ueful and leat improved of all human Studies is, in my Opinion, that of Man, (2) and I dare ay, that the Incription on the Temple of Delphos did alone contain a more important and difficult Precept than all the huge Volumes of the Moralits. I therefore conider the Subject of this Dicoure, as one of the mot intereting Quetions Philoophy can propoe, and, unhappily for us, one of the mot knotty Philoophers can labour to olve: For how is it poible to know the Source of the Inequality among Men, without knowing Men themelves? And how hall Man be able to ee himelf, uch as Nature formed him, in pite of all the Alterations which a long Succeion of Years and Events mut have produced in his original Contitution, and to ditinguih what is of his own Eence, from what the Circumtances he