BOOK III PART II
Accordingly we may observe, that this is
both the general practice and principle of
mankind, and that no nation, that coued find
any remedy, ever yet suffered the cruel rav-
ages of a tyrant, or were blamed for their resis-
tance. Those who took up arms against Diony-
sius or Nero, or Philip the second, have the
favour of every reader in the perusal of their
history: and nothing but the most violent per-
version of common sense can ever lead us to
condemn them. It is certain, therefore, that in
all our notions of morals we never entertain
such an absurdity as that of passive obedience,
but make allowances for resistance in the more
flagrant instances of tyranny and oppression.
The general opinion of mankind has some au-
thority in all cases; but in this of morals it is
perfectly infallible. Nor is it less infallible, be-
cause men cannot distinctly explain the princi-