Page:Essay on Crimes and Punishments (1775).djvu/184

 the great and the vulgar appears to him the less, as the number of mankind he has in view is greater.

The philosopher has necessities and interests unknown to the vulgar, and the chief of these is not to belie in public the principles he taught in obscurity, and the habit of loving virtue for its own sake. A few such philosophers would constitute the happiness of a nation; which however would be but of short duration, unless by good laws the number were so increased as to lessen the probability of an improper choice.

NOTHER method of preventing crimes is, to make the observance of the laws, and not their violation, the interest of the magistrate.