IV.
_Another cause of their prohibition is, that, if indulged in, they may produce habits of gaming--these habits after the moral character-they occasion men to become avaricious--dishonest--cruel--and disturbers of the order of nature--observations by Hartley from his essay on man._ Another reason, why the Quakers do not allow their members the use of cards, and of similar amusements, is, that, if indulged in, they may produce habits of gaming, which, if once formed, generally ruin the moral character.
It is in the nature of cards, that chance should have the greatest share in the production of victory, and there is, as I have observed before, usually a monied stake.

But where chance is concerned, neither victory nor defeat can be equally distributed among the combatants.

If a person wins, he feels himself urged to proceed.

The amusement also points out to him the possibility of a sudden acquisition of fortune without the application of industry.

If he loses, he does not despair.