"The punctilio's indeed on which he depends, for his own peace, and the peace of society, are so ridiculous in the eye of reason, that it is not a little surprising, how so many millions of reasonable beings should have sanctified them with their mutual consent and acquiescence; that they should have agreed to surround the seats of friendship, and the table of festivity, with so many thorns of inquietude, and snares of destruction."
The Man of the World
At least 12 entries in ESTC (1773, 1783, 1787, 1792, 1795, 1799).<br>
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Text from  <u>The Man of the World. In Two Parts</u> (London: Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell, 1773). &lt;<a href="http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2003&xri:pqil:res_ver=0.2&res_id=xr  i:lion&rft_id=xri:lion:ft:pr:Z000030484:0">Link to LION</a>&gt;