University of Virginia Library

465. ARISTOCRACY, Despised.—

An industrious
farmer occupies a more dignified
place in the scale of beings, whether moral
or political, than a lazy lounger, valuing himself
on his family, too proud to work, and
drawing out a miserable existence by eating
on that surplus of other men's labor, which
is the sacred fund of the helpless poor.—
To M. de Meunier. Washington ed. ix, 271. Ford ed., iv, 176.
(P. 1786)