I am firmly convinced that all the kinds of commonwealths which
can be devised for men's living together in harmony, and likewise the
means whereby a multitude should be guided and kept within settled
bounds, have been shown by experience ; so that I do not think there
is anything not repugnant to experience and practice which we can
discover by meditation on this topic, but hath before now been known
and put to trial. For such is the temper of men that they cannot live
except in some common bond of laws ; and the laws of commonwealths
and ajffairs of state have been founded and considered by men of the
greatest wit (whether by policy or by craft) ; wherefore 'tis hardly
credible that we should be able to devise anything fitted to be of use
to society which opportunity or accident hath never offered, and which
men busied on public affairs and mindful of assuring their own interest
have not discerned, (c. i, § 3.)

Yet this only seems strange to the eyes of us who have learnt
by fairly trying scientific methods how complex the world is.
