The New Hampshire Gazette

ROLLA

SELF GOVERNMENT.

He that is master of himself is a king. Though his body should be in prison or in chains, his mind is free, and he exercises within himself a most noble sovereignty. On the other hand, the monarch who glitters on his throne and hath power of life and death over a million of men, is himself a slave, if he submits his reason to the control of passion and appetite.

Alexander, by common consent, has obtained the name of Great, because, forsooth, his word had shed more blood than that of any other man. He was the great butcher—not of herds and flocks, but of men. In reality, however, as to a most important point, he was Alexander the little. After all his conquests, he was a slave: he was a miserable victim to drunkenness and to violent anger; and, in the rage of passion, inflamed by wine, he slew Clitus, his best friend and ablest general, with his own hand.

The old philosopher was much more deserving of the title of great, who, when his servant had acted in a provoking manner towards him, said to the offender I would correct you, if I were not angry. No man is truly great, who does not govern himself; nor is any man really little, who uniformly and strictly maintains self-government.

Would you obtain the honor of a conqueror? The field is open; conquer your own unruly passions and appetites, and lay those rebels prostrate at the feet of reason: It is a most noble conquest. Would you be a ruler? Govern yourself; be the commandant of your own garrison: this kind of authority (and it is in the power of every one to exercise it) is equally necessary and honorable the wise man remarked, he that ruleth his own spirit is better than the mighty one who taketh a city.