Malebranch's search after truth, or, A treatise of the nature of the humane mind and of its management for avoiding error in the sciences : vol I : done out of French from the last edition.

CHAP. IX.

How the Inclination we have for Honours and Riches leads us to Error.

HOnours and Riches, as well as Virtue and Sciences, which we have been speaking of, are the Prin∣cipal things that raise us above other Men; for our Being seems to Agrandize and become Independent by the Possession of these Advantages. So that the Love we bear our selves, carrying it self naturally to Honours and Riches, we may affirm at least, that all People have some Inclination towards them. Let us explain in few words, how these Inclinations hinder us from finding out Truth, and engage us into False∣hood and Error.

We have shown in divers Places, that a great deal of Time, Pains, Assiduity, and Industry of Mind, are required to discover Truths that are compos'd and surrounded with Difficulties, and which depend on many Principles. From thence it is easie to conclude, That Publick Persons, who have great Imployments, great Estates to govern, and great Affairs to manage, and who much Covet Honours and Riches, are not very fit to Search after these Truths; and that they often are guilty of Error, in relation to Things that are not easily known, when they set up for Judges of them.

1. Because they have but very little Time to imploy in Search of Truth.

2. That commonly they do not delight in it.

3. Since they are not very capable of Attention, because the Capacity of their Mind is divided by the multitude of the Idea's of such things as they desire, and to which they are oblig'd to apply themselves.

4. Because they think they know every thing, and are not easily perswaded that their Inferiours can have a greater share of Reason than they have; for though they are willing to learn some things of them, they are unwilling to be instructed by them in solid and necessary Truths: They fly out into a Passion when any Body contradicts and undeceives them.

5. Since all their Imaginations are commonly ap∣plauded, though never so false and opposite to Com∣mon Sense; and that Men Laugh at those that are not of their Opinion, though they maintain undeniable Truths. The sordid Flatteries of those that are about them confirm them in their Errors, and in the false Esteem they have of themselves, and so encourages them to judge boldly of all things.

6. Because they seldom fix on any but sensible No∣tions, which are fitter for Common Conversations, and to preserve the Esteem of Men, than the pure Idea's of the Mind, which serve to discover Truth.

7. Since those who aspire to any Dignity, endea∣vour as much as they can to suit themselves to the Ca∣pacity of others; because nothing Excites the Envy and Aversion of Men so much as too uncommon Sen∣timents. It is very difficult for those whose Mind and Heart is taken up with the Thoughts and Desires of making their Fortune, to discover difficult Truths; and when they do find out any, they often abandon them out of Interest, because the Defence of those Truths does not suit with their Ambition. Men must often Wink at Injustice to become Magistrates; a so∣lid and uncommon Piety often hinders a Man from obtaining the Goods of Fortune; and the generous Love of Truth often deprives Men of the Pulpit; where Truth ought to be Taught.

All these Reasons joyn'd together, make Men that are much above others by their Dignities, Nobility, and Riches, or such who only think of rising and ma∣king

their Fortune, very liable to Error, and little ca∣pable of discovering hidden Truths. For among those things that are necessary to avoid Error in Questions that are somewhat difficult, there are two principal ones that are not commonly met with in the persons we are speaking of, viz. Attention of Mind to Pene∣trate into the Bottom of Things; and Wisdom enough not to Judge of them Rashly. Even those that are chosen to Teach others, and whose Business it is to Inform themselves, in order to instruct those that are committed to their Care, commonly become liable to Error, as soon as they become Publick Persons: Either because that having very little time, they are incapa∣ble of Attention, and applying themselves to things which require a great deal of time; or because that being earnestly desirous to appear great Scholars, they boldly decide all things without the least Considerati∣on, and will hardly suffer any Body to Oppose, and to Instruct them.