The art of rhetoric, with A discourse of the laws of England by Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury.

CHAP. VII.

Of the Colours, or common Opinions con∣cerning Good and Evil, comparatively.

THE Colours of Good comparatively de∣pend partly upon the following De∣finitions of Comparatives.

1. More, is so much, and somewhat be∣sides.

2. Less, is that, which and somewhat else is so much.

3. Greater and more in number are said only Comparatively to Less, and Fewer in number.

4. Great and Little, Many and Few, are taken Comparatively to the Most of the same kind. So that Great and Many, is that which exceeds; Little and Few, is that which is ex∣ceeded by the Most of the same kind.

Partly from the precedent Definitions of Good absolutely.

Common Opinions concerning Good. Comparatively then are these.

Greater Good is Many, than fewer, or one of those many.

And Greater is the kind, in which the greatest is greater than the greatest of ano∣ther kind. And greater is that Good than

another good, whose kind is greater than another's kind.

And Greater is that from which another Good follows; then the Good which follows.

And of two which exceed a third, Greater is that which exceeds it most.

And that which causes the greater Good.

And that which proceeds from a greater Good.

And Greater is that which is chosen for it self, than that which is chosen from som∣what else.

And the end greater than that which is not the end.

And that which less needs other things, than that which more.

And that which is independent, than that which is dependent of another.

And the Beginning, than not the Begin∣ning.

[Seeing the Beginning is a greater Good, or Evil, than that which is not the Be∣ginning; and the End, than that which is not the End; One may argue from this Colour both ways: as Leodamas a∣gainst Chabrias, would have the Actor more to blame than the Advisor; and against Callistratus, the Advisor more than the Actor.]

And the Cause, than not the Cause.

And that which hath a greater Beginning or Cause.

And the Beginning, or Cause of a grea∣ter Good or Evil.

And that which is scarce, greater than that which is Plentiful; because harder to get.

And that which is Plentiful, than that which is scarce; because oftner in Use.

And that which is easie, than that which is Hard.

And that whose Contrary is greater.

And that whose Want is greater.

And Vertue than not Vertue, a greater Good. Vice, than not Vice, a greater Evil.

And greater Good, or Evil is that, the ef∣fects whereof are more Honourable or more Shameful.

And the effects of greater Vertues, or Vi∣ces.

And the Excess whereof is more tolera∣ble, a greater Good.

And those things which may with more honour be desir'd.

And the desire of better things.

And those things whereof the Knowledg is better.

And the Knowledge of better things.

And that which wise men prefer.

And that which is in better men.

And that which better men chuse.

And that which is more, than that which is less delightful.

And that which is more, than that which is less Honourable.

And that which we would have for our selves and Friends, a greater Good; and the contrary a greater Evil.

And that which is Lasting, than that which is not Lasting.

And that which is Firm, than that which is not Firm.

And what many desire, than what few.

And what the Adversary, or Judg confes∣seth to be greater, is greater.

And Common than not Common.

And not Common than Common.

And what is more Laudable.

And that which is more Honour'd, a grea∣ter Good.

And that which is more Punish'd, a grea∣ter Evil.

And both Good and Evil divided than un∣divided, appear greater.

And Compounded than Simple, appear greater.

And that which is done with Opportuni∣ty, Age, Place, Time, Means disadvantagi∣ous, greater than otherwise.

And that which is natural, than that which is attained unto.

And the same part of that which is great, than of that which is less.

And that which is nearest to the end de∣signed.

And that which is Good or Evil to ones self, than that which is simply so.

And Possible, than not possible.

And that which comes toward the end of our Life.

And that which we do really, than that which we do for shew.

And that which we would be, rather than what we would seem to be.

And that which is good for more purpo∣ses, is the greater Good.

And that which serves us in great ne∣cessity.

And that which is joyned with less trou∣ble.

And that which is joyned with more de∣light.

And of the two, that which added to a third, makes the whole the greater.

And that which having, we are more sen∣sible of.

And in every thing, that which we most esteem.