BOOK II PART III
terest, would never conspire to deceive us; es-
pecially since they must, in the attempt, expose
themselves to the derision of all their contem-
poraries, when these facts were asserted to be
recent and universally known. The same kind
of reasoning runs through politics, war, com-
merce, economy, and indeed mixes itself so en-
tirely in human life, that it is impossible to act
or subsist a moment without having recourse
to it. A prince, who imposes a tax upon his
subjects, expects their compliance. A general,
who conducts an army, makes account of a cer-
tain degree of courage. A merchant looks for
fidelity and skill in his factor or super-cargo. A
man, who gives orders for his dinner, doubts
not of the obedience of his servants. In short, as
nothing more nearly interests us than our own
actions and those of others, the greatest part of
our reasonings is employed in judgments con-