BOOK III PART II
ment of morals is founded on the nature of our
passions, and gives the preference to ourselves
and friends, above strangers; it is impossible
there can be naturally any such thing as a fixed
right or property, while the opposite passions
of men impel them in contrary directions, and
are not restrained by any convention or agree-
ment.
No one can doubt, that the convention for
the distinction of property, and for the stability
of possession, is of all circumstances the most
necessary to the establishment of human soci-
ety, and that after the agreement for the fixing
and observing of this rule, there remains little
or nothing to be done towards settling a per-
fect harmony and concord. All the other pas-
sions, besides this of interest, are either easily
restrained, or are not of such pernicious con-