Among the arts of conversation, no one pleases more than mutual deference or civility, which
leads us to resign our own inclinations to those of our companion, and to curb and conceal that
presumption and arrogance, so natural to the human mind. A good-natured man, who is well
educated, practises this civility to every mortal, without premeditation or interest. But in order to
render that valuable quality general among any people, it seems necessary to assist the natural
disposition by some general motive. Where power rises upwards from the people to the great, as
in all republics, such refinements of civility are apt to be little practised; since the whole state is,
by that means, brought near to a level, and every member of it is rendered, in a great measure,
independent of another. The people have the advantage, by the authority of their suffrages: The
great, by the superiority of their station. But in a civilized monarchy, there is a long train of
dependence from the prince to the peasant, which is not great enough to render property
precarious, or depress the minds of the people; but is sufficient to beget in every one an
inclination to please his superiors, and to form himself upon those models, which are most
acceptable to people of condition and education. Politeness of manners, therefore, arises most
naturally in monarchies and courts; and where that flourishes, none of the liberal arts will be
altogether neglected or despised.
I.
XIV.31