Butasthephilosopherisapttofailintheroutineofpoliticallife, , andthunderisheardinthedistance, heisstillguidedbyhisoldmaxims, andistheslaveofhisinveteratepartyprejudices; hecannotperceivethesignsofthetimes; insteadoflookingforwardhelooksback; helearnsnothingandforgetsnothing; with ‘wisesawsandmoderninstances’ , , whychurchescanneverreform, , ; theygrowuponhim, andhebecomespossessedbythem; nojudgementofothersiseveradmittedbyhimtobeweighedinthebalanceagainsthisown.

(d) Plato, labouringunderwhat, tomodernreaders, appearstohavebeenaconfusionofideas, assimilatesthestatetotheindividual, , , andthatthewillorcharacterofastateornationisreallythebalanceorratherthesurplusofindividualwills, ; thefreedomoftheindividual, whichisalwayslimited, ; whencearisestheoftendiscussedquestion, ‘Cananation, likeanindividual, haveaconscience?’ Wehesitatetosaythatthecharactersofnationsarenothingmorethanthesumofthecharactersoftheindividualswhocomposethem; ; ormaybeanimatedbysomecommonopinionorfeelingwhichcouldnotequallyhaveaffectedthemindofasingleperson, , thoughspeciousasarguments, mayoftenhavenofoundationinfact, orofdistinguishingbetweenwhatisintelligibleorvividlypresenttothemind, , —: , heimaginesthathewillfindthesuccessionofstatesparalleledinthelivesofindividuals.