Page:The Works of Samuel Johnson ... A journey to the Hebrides. The vision of Theodore, the hermit of Teneriffe. The fountains. Prayers and meditations. Sermons.v. 10-11. Parliamentary debates.pdf/379

 miseries of war. It is, indeed, scarcely credible, it would, without experience, be absolutely incredible, that a man should carry destruction and slaughter round the world, lay cities in ashes, and put nations to the sword, without one pang or one tear; that we should feel no reluctance at seizing the possessions of another, at robbing parents of their children, and shortening or imbittering innumerable lives. Yet this fatal, this dreadful effect, has pride been able to produce. Pride has been able to harden the heart against compassion, and stop the ears against the cries of misery.

In this manner does pride operate, when unhappily united with power and dominion; and has, in the lower ranks of mankind, similar, though not equal, effects. It makes masters cruel and imperious, and magistrates insolent and partial. It produces contempt and injuries, and dissolves the bond of society.

Nor is this species of pride more hurtful to the world, than destructive to itself. The oppressour unites heaven and earth against him; if a private man, he, at length, becomes the object of universal hatred and reproach; and if a prince, the neighbouring monarchs combine to his ruin. So that "when pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom."

He that sets too high a value upon his own merits, will, of course, think them ill rewarded with his present condition. He will endeavour to exalt his fortune and his rank above others, in proportion as his deserts are superiour to theirs. He will conceive his virtues obscured by his fortune, lament that his great abilities lie useless and unobserved for want of a sphere of action, in which he might exert them in their full extent. Once fired with these notions, he will attempt to increase his fortune, and enlarge his sphere; and how few there are that prosecute such attempts with innocence, a very transient observation will sufficiently inform us.

Every man has remarked the indirect methods made use of in the pursuit of wealth; a pursuit, for the most part,