Page:A Vindication of Natural Society - Burke (1756).djvu/42

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[32]

I now come to shew, that Political Society is justly chargeable with much the greatest Part of this Destruction of the Species. But to give the fairest Play to every side of the Question, I will own that there is a Haughtiness, and Fierceness in human Nature, which will cause innumerable Broils, place Men in what State you please; but owning this, I still insist in charging to Political Regulations, that these Broils are so frequent, so cruel, and attended with so deplorable Consequences. In a State of Nature, it would be impossible to join together a Number of Men, sufficiently agreed in the same bloody Design, necessary to make a very extensive Havock of their Species; and if they would come to such an Agreement, (an impossible Supposition) yet the Means that simple Nature has supplied them with, are by no Means adequate to such a Purpose; many Scratches, many Bruises undoubtedly would be received upon all hands; but only a few, a very fewDeaths.