WARNING.

philosophers as politicians; I place them in the same rank. Speculative politicians hazard more often than others in publishing maxims of government. They want to regulate states, to give lessons to all princes on how to conduct themselves well, and to ministers on how to handle the most delicate affairs with dexterity. Following the example of bad philosophers, they write long arguments and great books to teach me what they themselves do not know. Whereas the skillful practitioner in politics, as in the Hermetic Science, is very careful not to reveal the secret springs of his conduct; he takes care to keep them all to himself; and I find that he is right. It is regarding skillful politicians that one has said, very ingeniously, what one can apply to the greatest philosophers: Your knowledge