But they thought the want of moral virtues was so far from being supplied by superior endowments of the mind, that employments could never be put into such dangerous hands as those of persons so qualified; and, at least, that the mistakes committed by ignorance, in a virtuous disposition, would never be of such fatal consequence to the public weal, as the practices of a man, whose inclinations led him to be corrupt, and who had great abilities to manage, to multiply, and defend his corruptions.
Baina bertute moralen gabezia adimen-dohain handiagoen bidez hain zaila denez betetzen, horrelako pertsonenak bezaiako esku arriskutsuetan kargu ofizialak ez direla inoiz utzi behar pentsatzen dute; eta behintzat, asmo onarekin ezjakintasunez eginiko hutsegiteek ez dutela inoiz guztion ongirako hain ondorio txarrik izango, nola baitute, gaiztakeriarako joera izanik, bere txarkeria antolatu, ugaldu eta defendatzeko abilezia handia duenaren ekintzek.