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POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY |
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by Pliny the Younger
Consider that you are sent to that noble province to regulate the condition of free cities; sent, that is, to a society of men who breathe the spirit of true manhood and liberty; who have maintained the rights they received from Nature, by courage, by virtue, by alliances; in a word, by civil and religious faith. Revere the gods their founders; their ancient glory, and even that very antiquity itself, venerable in men, is sacred in states. Honor them therefore for their deeds of old renown, nay, their very legendary traditions. Grant to every one his full dignity, privileges, yes, and the indulgence of his very vanity. Remember it was from this nation we derived our laws; that she did not receive ours by conquest, but gave us hers by favor. Reflect what these cities once were; but so reflect as not to despise them for what they are now. Far be pride and asperity from you my friend; nor fear, by a proper condescension, to lay yourself open to contempt. Can he who is vested with the power and bears the ensigns of authority, can he fail of meeting with respect, unless by pursuing base and sordid measures, and first breaking through that reverence he owes to himself? Ill, believe me, is power proved by insult; ill can terror command veneration, and far more effectual is affection in obtaining one's purpose than fear. For terror operates no longer than its object is present, but love produces its effects with its object at a distance: and as absence changes the former into hatred, it raises the latter into respect. Therefore you ought (and I cannot but repeat it too often) you ought to well consider the nature of your office, and to represent to yourself how great and important the task is of governing a free state. For what can be better for society than such government, what can be more precious than freedom? How ignominious then must his conduct be who turns good government into anarchy, and liberty into slavery? To these considerations let me add, that you have an established reputation to maintain; the fame you have acquired by good administration elsewhere, the good opinion of the Emperor, the credit you obtained in other offices, in a word, this very government, which may be looked upon as the reward of your former services, are all so many glorious weights which are incumbent upon you to support with suitable dignity. The more strenuously therefore you ought to endeavor that it may not be said you showed greater urbanity, integrity and ability in a province remote from the capital, than in one which lies so much nearer the capital; in the midst of a nation of slaves, than among a free people; that it may not be remarked, that it was chance, and not judgment, appointed you to this office; that your character was unknown and inexperienced, not tried and approved. It should be an invariable rule to refer to the Emperor in all matters where there is doubt, for the highest authority is alone capable of removing scruples or informing one's ignorance. If you are unacquainted with the nature of a particular crime or the measure of punishment, it is not wholly proper for you to enter into an examination concerning these things. Force of character, or whatever else you may call a fixed determination in obtaining what one has a mind for, rightly applied, can effect infinite good. The misfortune is that there is less of this quality about good people than about bad people, and as ignorance begets rashness, and thoughtfulness produces deliberation, so modesty is apt to cripple the action of virtue, while confidence will become the aid of vice. For (and it is a maxim which your reading and conversation must have often suggested to you) it is a far greater disgrace losing the name one has once acquired than never to have attained it. I again beg you to be persuaded that I did not write this with a design of instruction, but of reminder. Indeed, however, if I had, it would have only been in consequence of the great affection I bear you. It is a sentiment I am in no fear of carrying beyond its just bounds, for there can be no danger of excess where one cannot love too well. |
Letters of the Younger Pliny, by Betty Radice
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