Part II. Of the Benefit of Justice. William Penn. 1909-14. Fruits of Solitude. The Harvard Classics

William Penn. (1644–1718). Fruits of Solitude.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

Part II

Of the Benefit of Justice


181. Justice is a great Support of Society, because an Insurance to all Men of their Property: This violated, there ’s no Security, which throws all into Confusion to recover it.	1
182. An Honest Man is a fast Pledge in Dealing. A Man is Sure to have it if it be to be had.	2
183. Many are so, merely of Necessity: Others not so only for the same Reason: But such an honest Man is not to be thanked, and such a dishonest Man is to be pity’d.	3
184. But he that is dishonest for Gain, is next to a Robber, and to be punish’d for Example.	4
185. And indeed there are few Dealers, but what are Faulty, which makes Trade Difficult, and a great Temptation to Men of Virtue.	5
186. ’T is not what they should, but what they can get: Faults or Decays must be concealed: Big Words given, where they are not deserved, and the Ignorance or Necessity of the Buyer imposed upon for unjust Profit.	6
187. These are the Men that keep their Words for their own Ends, and are only Just for Fear of the Magistrate.	7
188. A Politick rather than a Moral Honesty; a constrained, not a chosen Justice: According to the Proverb, Patience per Force, and thank you for nothing.	8
189. But of all Justice, that is the greatest, that passes under the Name of Law. A Cut-Purse in Westminster-Hall exceeds; for that advances Injustice to Oppression, where Law is alledged for that which it should punish.	9