Itisnobletopossesshappinessandindependence，eitherinretirement，orinpubliclife。Thecharacteristicofthehappy，istoacquitthemselveswellineverycondition；inthecourt，orinthevillage；inthesenate，orintheprivateretreat。Butiftheyaffectanyparticularstation，itissurelythatinwhichtheiractionsmayberenderedmostextensivelyuseful。Ourconsideringmereretirement，therefore，asasymptomofmoderation，andofvirtue，iseitheraremnantofthatsystem，underwhichmonksandanchorets，informerages，havebeencanonized；orproceedsfromahabitofthinking，whichappearsequallyfraughtwithmoralcorruption，fromourconsideringpubliclifeasasceneforthegratificationofmerevanity，avarice，andambition；neverasfurnishingthebestopportunityforajustandahappyengagementofthemindandtheheart。
Emulation，andthedesireofpower，arebutsorrymotivestopublicconduct；butiftheyhavebeen，inanycase，theprincipalinducementsfromwhichmenhavetakenpartintheserviceoftheircountry，anydiminutionoftheirprevalenceorforceisarealcorruptionofnationalmanners；andthepretendedmoderationassumedbythehigherordersofmen，hasafataleffectinthestate。Thedisinterestedloveofthepublic，isaprinciplewithoutwhichsomeconstitutionsofgovernmentcannotsubsist:
butwhenweconsiderhowseldomthishasappearedareigningpassion，wehavelittlereasontoimputetheprosperityofpreservationofnations，ineverycase，toitsinfluence。
Itissufficient，perhaps，underoneformofgovernment，thatmenshouldbefondoftheirindependence；thattheyshouldbereadytoopposeusurpation，andtorepelpersonalindignities:
underanother，itissufficient，thattheyshouldbetenaciousoftheirrank，andoftheirhonours；andinsteadofazealforthepublic，entertainavigilantjealousyoftherightswhichpertaintothemselves。Whennumbersofmenretainacertaindegreeofelevationandfortitude，theyarequalifiedtogiveamutualchecktotheirseveralerrors，andareabletoactinthatvarietyofsituationswhichthedifferentconstitutionsofgovernmenthavepreparedfortheirmembers:but，underthedisadvantagesofafeeblespirit，howeverdirected，andhoweverinformed，nonationalconstitutionissafe；norcananydegreeofenlargementtowhichastatehasarrived，secureitspoliticalwelfare。