William Penn. (1644–1718). Fruits of Solitude.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.
Neutrality
425. Neutrality is something else than Indifferency; and yet of kin to it too.
426. A Judge ought to be Indifferent, and yet he cannot be said to be Neutral.
427. The one being to be Even in Judgment, and the other not to meddle at all.
428. And where it is Lawful, to be sure, it is best to be Neutral.
429. He that espouses Parties, can hardly divorce himself from their Fate; and more fall with their Party than rise with it.
430. A wise Neuter joins with neither; but uses both, as his honest Interest leads him.
431. A Neuter only has room to be a Peace-maker: For being of neither side, he has the Means of mediating a Reconciliation of both.