BOOK III PART II
time, that human nature is so subject to frailties
and passions, as may easily pervert this insti-
tution, and change their governors into tyrants
and public enemies. If the sense of common
interest were not our original motive to obe-
dience, I would fain ask, what other princi-
ple is there in human nature capable of sub-
duing the natural ambition of men, and forc-
ing them to such a submission? Imitation and
custom are not sufficient. For the question still
recurs, what motive first produces those in-
stances of submission, which we imitate, and
that train of actions, which produces the cus-
tom? There evidently is no other principle
than public interest; and if interest first pro-
duces obedience to government, the obligation
to obedience must cease, whenever the interest
ceases, in any great degree, and in a consider-
able number of instances.