[40]
From it come treason and the
overthrow of states; and from it spring secret and
corrupt conferences with public foes. In short,
there is no criminal purpose and no evil deed which
the lust for pleasure will not drive men to undertake. Indeed, rape, adultery, and every like
offence are set in motion by the enticements of
pleasure and by nothing else; and since nature—
or some god, perhaps—has given to man nothing
more excellent than his intellect, therefore this
divine gift has no deadlier foe than pleasure;
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