William Penn. (1644–1718). Fruits of Solitude.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
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| Part I |
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| Impartiality |
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| 404. Impartiality, though it be the last, is not the least Part of the Character of a good Magistrate. | 1 |
| 405. It is noted as a Fault, in Holy Writ, even to regard the Poor: How much more the Rich in Judgment? | 2 |
| 406. If our Compassions must not sway us; less should our Fears, Profits or Prejudices. | 3 |
| 407. Justice is justly represented Blind, because she sees no Difference in the Parties concerned. | 4 |
| 408. She has but one Scale and Weight, for Rich and Poor, Great and Small. | 5 |
| 409. Her Sentence is not guided by the Person, but the Cause. | 6 |
| 410. The Impartial Judge in Judgment, knows nothing but the Law: The Prince no more than the Peasant, his Kindred than a Stranger. Nay, his Enemy is sure to be upon equal Terms with his Friend, when he is upon the Bench. | 7 |
| 411. Impartiality is the Life of Justice, as that is of Government. | 8 |
| 412. Nor is it only a Benefit to the State, for private Families cannot subsist comfortably without it. | 9 |
| 413. Parents that are partial, are ill obeyed by their Children; and partial Masters not better served by their Servants. | 10 |
| 414. Partiality is always Indirect, if not Dishonest: For it shews a Byass where Reason would have none; if not an Injury, which Justice every where forbids. | 11 |
| 415. As it makes Favorites without Reason, so it uses no Reason in judging of Actions: Confirming the Proverb, The Crow thinks her own Bird the fairest. | 12 |
| 416. What some see to be no Fault in one, they will have Criminal in another. | 13 |
| 417. Nay, how ugly do our own Failings look to us in the Persons of others, which yet we see not in our selves. | 14 |
| 418. And but too common it is for some People, not to know their own Maxims and Principles in the Mouths of other Men, when they give occasion to use them. | 15 |
| 419. Partiality corrupts our Judgment of Persons and Things, of our selves and others. | 16 |
| 420. It contributes more than any thing to Factions in Government, and Fewds in Families. | 17 |
| 421. It is prodigal Passion, that seldom returns ’till it is Hunger-bit, and Disappointments bring it within bounds. | 18 |
| 422. And yet we may be indifferent, to a Fault. | 19 |
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