Party is little less than an Inquisition, where Men are under such a Discipline in carrying on the common Cause, as leaves no Liberty of private Opinion.
It is hard to produce an Instance where a Party did ever succeed against a Government, except they had a good handle given them.
No original Party ever prevailed in a turn; it brought up something else, but the first Projectors were thrown off.
If there are two Parties, a Man ought to adhere to that which he disliketh least, though in the whole he doth not approve it: For whilst he doth not list himself in one or the other Party, he is looked upon as such a Straggler, that he is fallen upon by both. Therefore a Man under such a Misfortune of Singularity, is neither to provoke the World, nor disquiet himself, by taking any particular Station.
It becometh him to live in the Shade, and keep his Mistakes from giving Offence; but if they are his Opinions, he cannot put them off as he doth his Cloaths. Happy those who are convinced so as to be of the general Opinions.
Ignorance maketh most Men go into a Party, and Shame keepeth them from getting out of it.
More Men hurt others, they do not know why, than for any reason.
If there was any Party entirely composed of honest Men, it would certainly prevail; but both the honest Men and the Knaves resolve to turn one another off when the Business is done.
They by turns defame all England, so nobody can be employed that hath not been branded: There are few Things so criminal as a Place.
Of Courts.