The Theory of Moral Sentiments: Or, an Essay Towards an Analysis of the Principles by Which Men Naturally Judge Concerning the Conduct and Character, First of Their Neighbours, and Afterwards of Themselves. to Which Is Added, a Dissertation on the Origin of Languages.Smith, Adam
Philosophy
The Theory of Moral Sentiments: Or, an Essay Towards an Analysis of the Principles by Which Men Naturally Judge Concerning the Conduct and Character, First of Their Neighbours, and Afterwards of Themselves. to Which Is Added, a Dissertation on the Origin of Languages.
Smith, Adam
Ethics -- Early works to 1800; Language and languages -- Early works to 1800
On the other hand, what noble propriety and grace do we feel in the
conduct of those who, in their own case, exert that recollection and
self-command which constitute the dignity of every passion, and which
bring it down to what others can enter into? We are disgusted with that
clamorous grief, which, without any delicacy, calls upon our compassion
with sighs and tears and importunate lamentations. But we reverence that
reserved, that silent and majestic sorrow, which discovers itself only
in the swelling of the eyes, in the quivering of the lips and cheeks,
and in the distant, but affecting, coldness of the whole behaviour. It
imposes the like silence upon us. We regard it with respectful
attention, and watch with anxious concern over our whole behaviour, lest
by any impropriety we should disturb that concerted tranquillity, which
it requires so great an effort to support.
The insolence and brutality of anger, in the same manner when we indulge
its fury without check or restraint, is, of all subjects, the most
detestable. But we admire that noble and generous resentment which
governs its pursuit of the greatest injuries, not by the rage which they
are apt to excite in the breast of the sufferer, but by the indignation
which they naturally call forth in that of the impartial spectator;
which allows no word, no gesture, to escape it beyond what this more
equitable sentiment would dictate; which never, even in thought,
attempts any greater vengeance, nor desires to inflict any greater
punishment, than what every indifferent person would rejoice to see
executed.
And hence it is, that to feel much for others and little for ourselves,
that to restrain our selfish, and to indulge our benevolent affections,
constitutes the perfection of human nature; and can alone produce among
mankind that harmony of sentiments and passions in which consist their
whole grace and propriety. As to love our neighbour as we love ourselves
is the great law of christianity, so it is the great precept of nature
to love ourselves only as we love our neighbour, or what comes to the
same thing, as our neighbour is capable of loving us.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
The Theory of Moral Sentiments: Or, an Essay Towards an Analysis of the Principles by Which Men Naturally Judge Concerning the Conduct and Character, First of Their Neighbours, and Afterwards of Themselves. to Which Is Added, a Dissertation on the Origin of Languages. — John Shaqi
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