Such a thought is far from our minds.
Neither habitual abnegation nor modesty is among the militant virtues, and for this reason the critics ought often to relegate them to their proper place, which is the last, very close to defects to which they closely approach and among whose ranks one must sometimes go in order to discover them.
But, apart from the question of a sterile abnegation, we must foresee that it may be important not to overestimate one's individual interests, to the visible detriment of the general interest.
This is a fault common to all those who have not been initiated into the practise of self-control by means of reasoning based on solid premises.
They are ready to sacrifice very great interests, which do not seem to concern them directly, for some immediate paltry gratification.
"They act," said the philosopher, "like a peasant who should risk his harvest in order to avoid paying the prince the rent which belongs to him.
"Common sense teaches us that we should call to our assistance self-control, in order to repress the tendencies which tempt men to sacrifice the general interest to some personal and vehement desire.
"Rarely do these people find their advantage in separating themselves from the mass, and the prosperity of the greatest number is always the cradle of individual fortunes."
Leaving questions of primary importance to come to the subtleties of detail in which, he delights, Yoritomo speaks to us of self-control allied to common sense, extolling to us its good effects in practical questions of our every-day life.
"We too often confound," said he, "self-control and liberty.