JB/015/368/001

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43

5. Liberality, is beneficence on a large scale, – but unless
under the guidance of prudence may be a vice instead of a virtue
and unless under the guidance of benevolence may be still more
extensively pernicious. The word liberal is one of vague & various
interpretations. It is applied, with different meanings to thoughts, to words & to actions.
A liberal mind is usually understood to implyies a disposition to give a friendly interpretation
to the conduct of others – to avoid harsh & sudden judgments – to be
candid & charitable – reduced to certain conduct liberality may
mean, – mercy – justice – generosity – in a word in truth beneficence
both either by abstention, – or by action. To associate the word term
with prudence & benevolence it is very usual to attach to it
some one phrase or word which takes it out of the region of
possible misinterpretation – for example, – prudent liberality well judged liberality
well timed liberality – .
Liberality, undisciplined by the two real & cardinal virtues is
mere folly. It would be very liberal for any man to give to
others all that he has either in possession or in prospect – but
it would be neither wise nor virtuous – it might be very
liberal to patronise & to reward error & misconduct but it would be neither
useful nor benevolent philanthropic. In fact no liberality would
be so liberal as that which should run into all sorts of
extravagances. In the political field, liberal & liberalism are
used as self laudatory terms by a party in the State, & are generally
associated in the intentions meaning of those who employ them with with the original
idea of Liberty – liberals the advocates of Liberty – liberalism the principles
of Liberty applied to public life. There are few words, which, with
its derivations have been more mischievous than this word Liberty.
When it means any thing beyond mere caprice & dogmatism it means good government, – & if good
government had had the good fortune to occupy the same place in
the public mind which has been occupied by the vague entity called Liberty
– the crimes & follies which have disgraced & retarded the progress of
political improvement would hardly have been committed. The usual definition
of liberty that it is the right to do every thing that the laws do not forbid
shows with what carelessness words are used in ordinary discourse or composition
– for if the laws are bad – what becomes of liberty – & if the laws are
good – where is its value? Good laws have a defined, intelligible meaning – they
pursue an obviously useful end by obviously appropriate means. When Madame
de Roland undertook to distinguish liberty from licence she flattered the
ear by alliteration but brought no satisfaction to the understanding.

Identifier: | JB/015/368/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 15.
Date_1		Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	015	Main Headings	deontology
Folio number	368	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles
Category	linking material	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	f43
Penner	sir john bowring	Watermarks	c wise 1829
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year	1829
Notes public		ID Number	5584
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