John Selden Quote

He that has not religion to govern his morality, is not a dram better than my mastiff-dog; so long as you stroke him, and please him, and do not pinch him, he will play with you as finely as may be, he is a very good moral mastiff; but if you hurt him, he will fly in your face, and tear out your throat.

Table-talk, 1689, ed. by E. Arber. (Eng. repr.). (ed. 1689)