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Chapter — Part IV

Latin

Solet præterea concordia ex metu plerumque gigni sed sine fide. Adde quod metus ex animi impotentia oritur et propterea ad rationis usum non pertinet ut nec commiseratio quamvis pietatis speciem præ se ferre videatur.

English (Elwes 1883)

Further, harmony is often the result of fear: but such harmony is insecure. Further, fear arises from infirmity of spirit, and moreover belongs not to the exercise of reason: the same is true of compassion, though this latter seems to bear a certain resemblance to piety.

Modern English

Harmony is commonly also produced by fear, but without good faith. Fear, too, arises from powerlessness of mind and therefore does not belong to the exercise of reason — as neither does compassion, even though the latter may seem to bear the appearance of piety.