Let us explain the differences between these two ideas. 1. There is no honesty or moral goodness without _disinterestedness_; and he who never seeks anything but his own personal interest is branded by all as a _selfish_ man. 2. Interest gives only advice; morality gives _commands_. A man is not obliged to be skillful, but he is obliged to be _honest_. 3. Personal interest cannot be the foundation of any _universal_ and _general_ law as applicable to others as to ourselves, for the happiness of each depends on his own way of viewing things. Every man takes his pleasure where he finds it, and understands his interest as he pleases; but honesty or justice is the same for all men. 4. The honest is _clear_ and _self-evident_; the useful is _uncertain_. Conscience tells every one what is right or wrong; but it requires a long trained experience to calculate all the possible consequences of our actions, and it would often be absolutely impossible for us to foresee them. We cannot, therefore, always know what is useful to us; but we can always know what is right. 5. It is never impossible to do right; but one cannot always carry out his own wishes in order to be happy. The prisoner may always bravely bear his prison, but he cannot always get out of it. 6. We judge ourselves according to the principles of action we recognize. The man who _loses_ in gambling may _be troubled_ and regret his imprudence; but he who is conscious of having cheated in gambling (though he won thereby) must _despise_ himself if he judges himself from the standpoint of moral law. This law must therefore be something else than the principle of personal happiness. For, to be able to say to one's self, "I am a _villain_, though I have filled my purse," requires another principle than that by which one congratulates himself, saying, "I am a prudent man, for I have filled my cash-box." 7. The idea of _punishment_ or chastisement could not be understood, moreover, if the good only were the useful. A man is not punished for having been _awkward_; he is punished for being culpable. =8. The good or the honest.=--We have just seen that neither pleasure nor usefulness is the legitimate and supreme object of human life. We are certainly permitted to seek pleasure, since nature invites us to it; but we should not make it the aim of life. We are also permitted, and even sometimes commanded, to seek what is useful, since reason demands we see to our self-preservation. But, above pleasure and utility, there is another aim, a higher aim, the real object of human life. This higher and final aim is what we call, according to circumstances, the _good_, the _honest_, and the _just_. Now, what is _honesty_?