If one Servant is more valuable than another, has he not more
Merit than the other? And yet this is not on Account of Superior
Self-denial.
Is a Patriot not praise-worthy, if Publick Spirit is natural to
him?
Is a Pacing-Horse less valuable for being a natural Pacer?
Nor in my Opinion has any Man less Merit for having in general
natural virtuous Inclinations.
The Truth is, that Temperance, Justice, Charity, &c. are
Virtues, whether practis'd with or against our Inclinations; and the
Man who practises them, merits our Love and Esteem: And Self-denial
is neither good nor bad, but as 'tis apply'd: He that denies a
Vicious Inclination is Virtuous in proportion to his Resolution, but
the most perfect Virtue is above all Temptation, such as the Virtue
of the Saints in Heaven: And he who does a foolish, indecent or
wicked Thing, meerly because 'tis contrary to his Inclination, (like
some mad Enthusiasts I have read of, who ran about naked, under the
Notion of taking up the Cross) is not practising the reasonable
Science of Virtue, but is lunatick.
_New-Castle, Feb._ 5. 1734,5.
_The Pennsylvania Gazette_, February 18, 1734/5
_A Man of Sense_
_Mr. Franklin,_
`Being the other Day near the Meeting-House Corner with some
Gentlemen, in the open Street, I heard the following Piece of
Conversation; and penn'd it down as soon as I came home.
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