第5章

类别:其他 作者:Biographiq字数:11334更新时间:18/12/14 12:58:46
CUSTOMUPONMORALSENTIMENTS。 IntheestimationofDugaldStewart,themostvaluablecontributionof\'AdamSmithtotheimprovementofmoralscienceishisattempttoaccountfortheirregularityofourmoralsentiments,andfortheirliabilitytobemodifiedbyotherconsiderations,verydifferentfromtheproprietyorimproprietyoftheaffectionsoftheagent,orfromtheirbeneficialorhurtfultendency。AdamSmithwas,hethinks,thefirstphilosophertoappreciatethoroughlytheimportanceofthedifficulty,whichisequallygreatineverytheoryoftheoriginofourmoralsentiments;namely,thatouractualmoralsentimentsofapprobation,orthecontrary,aregreatlymodifiedbymattersextraneoustotheintentionoftheagent;as,forexample,bytheinfluenceontheactitselfofquitefortuitousoraccidentalcircumstances。 Thereare,firstofall,theeffectsofprosperityandadversityonthemoraljudgmentsofmenwithregardtotheproprietyofaction,wherebyitiseasiertoobtainapprobationintheoneconditionthanitisintheother。 Inequaldegreesofmeritthereisscarcelyanyonewhodoesnotmorerespecttherichandgreatthanthepoorandhumble;and,ontheotherhand,anequalamountofviceandfollyisregardedwithlessaversionandcontemptintheformerthanitisinthelatter。Howisthistobeexplained?andwhatistheoriginofthisperversionofmoralsentiment? Therealexplanationofitistobesoughtinthefactofoursympatheticemotions,which,astheyentermorevividlyintothejoysthanintothesorrowsofothers,feelmorepleasureintheconditionofthewealthythaninthatofthepoor。Itisagreeabletosympathizewithjoy,andpainfultoenterintogrief;sothat,wherethereisnoenvyinthecase,ourpropensitytosympathizewithjoyismuchstrongerthanourpropensitytosympathizewithsorrow;andourfellow-feelingfortheagreeableemotionapproachesnearertoitsoriginalintensitythanourfellow-feelingforthepainfulemotionofanotherperson。Itisforthisreasonthatwearemoreashamedtoweepthantolaughbeforecompany,thoughwemayoftenhaveasrealoccasiontodotheoneastheother:wealwaysfeelthatthespectatorsaremorelikelytogoalongwithusintheagreeablethaninthepainfulemotion。Henceourdispositiontoadmiretherichandpowerful,andtodespiseorneglectthepoorandlowly,arisesfromourassociationofjoyandpleasurewiththeconditionoftheformer,andofpainanddistresswiththatofthelatter。 Theconditionoftheformer,inthedelusivecoloursofourimagination,seemstobealmosttheabstractideaofaperfectandhappystate。Hencewefeelapeculiarsatisfactionwiththesatisfactionweattributetothem。 Wefavouralltheirinclinations,andforwardalltheirwishes。Weareeagertoassistthemincompletingasystemofhappinessthatapproachessoneartoperfection。 Itisfromthecommandwhichwealththushasoverthesympatheticandagreeablesentimentsofmankindthatleadstosoeagerapursuitandparadeofit,andtosostronganaversionto,andconcealmentof,poverty。Towhatpurposeisallthetoiloftheworldforwealth,power,andpre-eminence? Theonlyadvantagereallylookedtofromitis\"tobeobserved,tobeattendedto,tobetakennoticeofwithsympathy,complacency,andapprobation;\" andtherichmangloriesmoreinhisriches,becausetheynaturallydrawuponhimtheattentionoftheworld,thanforanyoftheotheradvantagesconnectedwiththem。Andforthesamereasonthepoormanisashamedofhispoverty,forthoughhemaybeaswellsuppliedastherichmanwiththenecessitiesoflife,heismortifiedatbeingplacedoutofthesightofmankind,atbeingtreatedwithneglect,andatbeinganobjectoftheantipathyratherthanofthesympathyofhisfellows。 Rankanddistinctionarethereforecoveted,assettingusinasituationmostinviewofgeneralsympathyandattention。\"Andthus,placethatgreatobjectwhichdividesthewivesofaldermenistheendofhalfthelaboursofhumanlife,andisthecauseofallthetumultandbustle,alltherapineandinjustice,whichavariceandambitionhaveintroducedintotheworld。\" Andthus,fromournaturaldispositiontoadmiretherichandpowerful,adifferentstandardofjudgmentarisesabouttheproprietyoftheirconductthanthatemployedaboutthebehaviourofothermen。Asingletransgressionoftherulesoftemperanceandproprietybyacommonmanisgenerallymoreresentedthantheirconstantandavowedneglectbyamanoffashion。Inthesuperiorstationsoflife,theroadtovirtueandthattofortunearenotalwaysthesame,astheyaregenerallyinthemiddlingandinferiorstations。Inthelatterstationsoflifesuccessnearlyalwaysdependsonthefavourandgoodopinionofequalsandneighbours,andthesecanseldombeobtainedwithoutatolerablyregularconduct。Inthem,therefore,\"wemaygenerallyexpectaconsiderabledegreeofvirtue;andfortunatelyforthegoodmoralsofsociety,thesearethesituationsofbyfarthegreaterpartofmankind。\" Notonlyhoweverhasprosperityoradversitygreatinfluenceonourmoralsentiments,leadingustoseeaproprietyinacertaincourseofbehaviourintheoneconditionwhichweareapttocondemnasimproperintheother,butthepraiseorblameweattachtoanyactiondependstoagreatextentontheeffectuponitoffortuneoraccident。Althougheverybodyallowsthatthemeritordemeritofactionsisstillthesame,whatevertheirunforeseenconsequencesmaybe,yet,whenwecometoparticularcases,itisclearthatoursentimentsofmeritordemeritareverymuchaffectedbytheactualconsequenceswhichhappentoproceedfromanyaction,andthatoursenseofeitherofthemistherebyenhancedordiminished。 Everyactionconsistsofthreeparts,someoneofwhichmustconstitutethebasisofwhateverpraiseorblameweattributetoit。Thesethreepartsare:theintentionoraffectionoftheheart,fromwhichtheactionproceeds; theexternalmovementofthebodywhichthisaffectioncauses;andthegoodorbadconsequenceswhichactuallyflowfromit。Itisevidentthatthemovementofthebody,beingoftenthesameinthemostinnocentasinthemostblameableactionsasinthecaseofshootingatabirdandshootingatamancannotbethesourceofpraiseorblame。Neithercantheaccidentalconsequencesofanaction,whichdependonfortune,notontheagent。Theonlyconsequencesforwhichthelatterisresponsiblearethoseinsomewayconnectedwithhisintention;sothatitistotheintentionoraffectionoftheheart,totheproprietyorimpropriety,tothebeneficenceorhurt-fulnessofthedesign,thatallpraiseorblame,allapprobationordisapprobationofanykind,mustultimatelybelong。 Theproblemthentobeexplainedisthefactthatoursenseofaman\'smeritordemeritisatallinfluencedbyre-suitswhichliebeyondhiscontrol,andthatwemoderateourpraiseorblameofhisconductaccordingashisgoodorbadintentionfailsornotofitsintendedbenefitorinjury。 Theexplanationisasfollows。 Thepassionsofgratitudeandresentment,onwhichdependourfeelingofthemeritordemeritofactions,areultimatelybasedonthebodilysensationofpleasureandpain。Theyareexcitedprimarilybywhateverproducespleasureorpain,evenbyinanimateobjects。\"Weareangryforamomentevenwiththestonethathurtsus。Achildbeatsit,adogbarksatit,acholericmanisapttocurseit。\"Weshouldfeelguiltyofasortofinhumanity,ifweneglectedtoavengeourfriendbythedestructionoftheinstrumentthathadaccidentlycausedhisdeath。Soitiswithgratitude。 Asailorwhomendedhisfirewiththeplankthathadsavedhimfromshipwreckwouldseemguiltyofanunnaturalact,forweshouldexpecthimtopreserveitwithcareandaffection。Soweconceivesomethinglikearealloveandaffectionforasnuff-box,orpen-knife,orastick,towhichwehavelongbeenaccustomed。\"Thehousewhichwehavelonglivedin,thetreewhoseverdureandshadewehavelongenjoyed,arebothlookeduponwithasortofrespectwhichseemsduetosuchbenefactors。Thedecayoftheone,ortheruinoftheother,affectsuswithakindofmelancholy,thoughweshouldsustainnolossbyit。\" Neverthelesstobetheproperobjectofgratitudeandresentment,athingmustnotonlybethecauseofpleasureandpain,butitselfcapableoffeelingtheminreturn。Animalsthereforearelessimproperobjectsofgratitudeandresentmentthaninanimatethings。\"Thedogthatbites,theoxthatgores,arebothofthempunished。Iftheyhavebeenthecausesofthedeathofanyperson,neitherthepublic,northerelationsoftheslain,canbesatisfied,unlesstheyareputtodeathintheirturn。\"Andontheotherhand,animalsthathavedoneagreatservice,areregardedwithmuchgratitude;andweareshockedwiththeingratitudeoftheofficer,intheTurkishSpy,whostabbedthehorsewhichhadcarriedhimacrossanarmofthesea,lestitshouldeverdistinguishsomeotherpersonbyasimilarfeat。 Butsomethingmoreisstillnecessarytothecompletegratificationofgratitudeandresentmentthanthemerecapabilityforfeelingpleasureorpaininreturnforpainorpleasurecaused。Thelattermusthavebeencausedbydesign,andtheremustbeaconsciousnessofdesigninthereturn。 Theobjectofresentmentischieflynotsomuchtomakeourenemyfeelpaininhisturn,astomakehimconsciousthathefeelsituponaccountofhispastconduct,andtomakehimrepentofthatconduct。Andthechiefobjectofgratitudeisnotonlytomakeourbenefactorfeelpleasureinhisturn,buttomakehimconsciousthathemeetswiththatrewardonaccountofhispastconduct,andtomakehimpleasedwiththatconduct。 Hencethreedifferentqualificationsarenecessarytorenderanythingthecompleteandproperobjectofgratitudeorresentment。Itmustfirstofallbethecauseofpleasureorpain;itmustsecondlybecapableoffeelingpleasureorpain;anditmustthirdlyproducepleasureorpainfromadesign,approvedofintheonecaseordisapprovedofintheother。 Sincethentheproductivenessofpleasureorpainistheprimaryexcitingcauseofgratitudeorresentment,thoughtheintentionsofanypersonshouldbeeversoproperandbeneficent,oreversoimproperandmalevolent,yet,ifhehasfailedinproducingthegoodorevilheintended,lessgratitudeorresentmentseemsduetohim,orinotherwords,lessmeritordemeritseemstoattachtohim,becausethepleasureorpain,theexcitingcausesofgratitudeorresentment,areineithercasewanting。Andso,whereinaman\'sintentionstherehasbeennolaudablebenevolenceorblameablemalice,buthisactionshaveneverthelessdonegreatgoodorgreatevil,thensomegratitudeorresentmentwillattachtohim,becausetheirexcitingcauseshavebeenpresentineithercase。Butsincetheconsequencesofaman\'sactionsrestaltogetherwithfortune,oursentimentsofmeritordemeritdependtoagreatextentuponherinfluenceonevents,uponhercontrolofthegoodorbad,thepleasurableorpainfulresults,whichflowfromouractions。 Thustheirregularityofourmoralsentimentsconcerningthemeritordemeritofactionsdependsultimatelyontheaccidentalamountofpleasureorpaintheyproduce,sincethesearetheprimaryexcitingcausesofourgratitudeorresentment。Havingexplainedthecauseofthephenomenon,itremainstoillustratetheeffects。 Eventheimpartialspectatorfeelsin。somemeasureadifferenceofmeritinaman\'sconductaccordingashisgoodintentionshaveproducedornottheresultsintendedbyhim,althoughtheymayonlyhavebeendefeatedbyaccident。Itisindeedcommontosay,thatweareequallyobligedtothemanwhohasendeavouredtoserveus,astothemanwhoreallyhasservedus;butthissaying,\"likeallotherfinespeeches,mustbeunderstoodwithagrainofallowance。\"Whenallothercircumstancesareequal,therewillalwaysbe,eveninthebestandnoblestmind,somedifferenceofaffectioninfavourofthefriendwhocarriesouthisgoodintention,asagainstthefriendwhofailstodoso。 Andasthemeritofanunsuccessfulattempttodogoodisdiminishedbyitsmiscarriage,soisthedemeritofanun-successfulattempttodoevil。Exceptinthecaseoftreason,theconceptionofwhichisinmanycountriespunishedasseverelyasitscommission,themeredesigntocommitacrimeisscarcelyeverpunishedasheavilyasitsactualperpetration。 Inhardlyanycountryistheman,whofiresapistolathisenemybutmisseshim,punishedwithdeath,thoughthereisthesamedegreeofdepravityinthecriminaldesignasinthecriminalaction。\"Theresentmentofmankind,however,runssohighagainstthiscrime,theirterrorforthemanwhoshowshimselfcapableofcommittingitissogreat,thatthemereattempttocommititoughtinallcountriestobecapital。Theattempttocommitsmallercrimesisalmostalwayspunishedverylightly,andsometimesisnotpunishedatall。Thethief,whosehandhasbeencaughtinhisneighbour\'spocketbeforehehadtakenanythingoutofit,ispunishedwithignominyonly。Ifhehadgottimetotakeawayahandkerchief,hewouldhavebeenputtodeath。\"(6)Thestateofthelawonlyreflectsthenaturalfeelingsofindividuals,whofeellessresentmentwhenamanhasfailedinexecutingthemischiefheintendedthanwhenhehasactuallydonethemaninjury。 Forthesamereason,aman,whohasbeensavedpurelybyaccidentfromthecommissionofacrimeheintended,thoughheisconsciousthathisrealguilt,thatofhisheart,remainsthesame,considershimselfaslessdeservingofresentmentandpunishment;andthusallthesenseofhisguiltiseitherdiminishedordestroyedbythemerefactoffortunehavingfavouredhim。 Again,asFortuneinfluencesourmoralsentimentsbylesseningthegoodorevil,thepleasureorpain,intendedbyouractions,sodoessheincreaseoursenseoftheirmeritordemerit,beyondwhattheirmereintentionwouldjustify,whentheyhappentogiverisetoextraordinarypleasureorpain。 Evenwhenanintentiondeservesneitherpraisenorblame,weareconsciousofashadeofmeritordemerit,accordingtoitsagreeableordisagreeableeffectsonus。Wefeelatransitorygratitudetothebearerofgoodtidings,andatransitoryresentmenttotheinnocentauthorofoursorrow。AndthoughwethinkitbarbarousinTigranes,kingofArmenia,tohavestruckofftheheadofamanforbeingthefirsttoannouncetheapproachofanenemy,yetwethinkitreasonablethat,bythecustomofallcourts,。theofficerwhofirstbringsthenewsofavictoryshouldbeentitledtoconsiderablepreferments。 Whenthenegligenceofonemancausesdamagetoanother,eventhoughhisnegligenceshouldbenomorethanawantofextremecircumspection,thelawofteninsistsoncompensation。InRometherewasalawwhichcompelledanyonewho,byreasonofhishorsetakingfrightandbecomingunmanageable,rodeoveranotherman\'sslave,tocompensatetheloss。Themanhimselfwhothusunintentionallyhurtsanothershowssomesenseofhisowndemeritbyatleastofferinganapology。Yetwhyshouldhemakeanapologymorethananyoneelse?Itisbecauseheisawarethattheimpartialspectatorwillfeelsomesympathywiththenatural,butunjust,resentmentofthepersonhehasaccidentallyinjured。 Butthenegligencedisplayedinanyactionmaybesogreatastocallnotmerelyforblameandcensure,butforactualpunishment。Forwemaysofarenterintotheresentmentfeltbyonemanonaccountofanunintendedinjurydonetohimbyanother,astoapproveofhisinflictingapunishmentontheoffenderwhichwouldhaveseemedinexcessofthedemeritofhisoffencehadnounluckyconsequencesensued。Forinstance,thoughnothingwouldappearmoreshockingtoournaturalsenseofequitythantoexecuteamanmerelyforhavingcarelesslythrownastoneintothestreetwithouthurtinganybody,yet,ifthestonehappenedtokillanybody,sogreatwouldbetheeffectofthisaccidentonourmoralsentimentsthat,thoughtheman\'sfollyandinhumanitywouldnotbegreaterinonecasethanintheother,weshouldnotconsidertheseverestpunishmenttoohardforhim。 Grossnegligenceis,therefore,inlawalmostthesameasmaliciousdesign。Lataculpapropedolumest。 Butourmoralsentimentsarcconsiderablyaffected,notonlybythefactoftheprosperityoradversityofthepersonwhoseconductwejudge,andbytheinfluenceoffortuneoraccidentontheresultofhisintentions,buttheyarealsogreatlymodifiedbythosetwogreatprinciplesofCustomandFashion,whichhavecausedsowideadifferenceofopinionaboutwhatisblameableorpraiseworthytoprevailindifferentagesandnations。 Forthevirtuesofthesavagestatearedifferentfromthoseofthecivilizedstate,thevirtuesofoneprofessionaredifferentfromthoseofanother,andthoseagainwhichweadmireinyoutharedifferentfromthosewelookforinoldage。 Thisfactisduetotheinfluenceofcustom,oroffashion,whichisaspeciesofcustom,asthecustomofpersonsofhighrankorcharacter。 Forboththeseaffectourmoralsentiments,albeitinalessdegree,yetinexactlythesamewaythattheyaffectourideasandfeelingsaboutbeautyinallobjectssubmittedtoourobservation。 Theinfluenceofcustomonourideasofbeautyisverygreat。Forwhenevertwoobjectshavebeenseeninfrequentconjunctiontogether,theimaginationacquiresahabitofpassingeasilyfromtheonetotheother;andthus,fromthemerehabitofexpectingtoseeonewhenweseetheother,thoughthereshouldbenorealbeautyintheirunion,weareconsciousofanimproprietywhentheychancetobeseparated。Ifevenasuitofclothesiswithoutsomeinsignificantbutusualornament,suchasabutton,weareinsomemeasuredispleasedbyitsabsence。 Thefashionofthingschangeswitharapidityproportionedtothedurablenessoftheirmaterial。Themodesoffurniturechangelessrapidlythanthoseofdress,becausefurnitureisgenerallymoredurable;butinfiveorsixyearsitgenerallyundergoesacompleterevolution,andeverymanseesitsfashionchangeinmanydifferentwayseveninhisownlifetime。Buttheproductionsofsuchartsasmusic,poetry,orarchitecture,beingmuchmorelasting,thefashionorcustom,whichprevailsnolessoverthemthanoverwhateverelseistheobjectoftaste,maycontinueunchangedforamuchlongertime。Abuildingmayendureforages,abeautifulairmaybehandeddownthroughgenerations,apoemmaylastaslongastheworld,andthustheymayallsetthefashionoftheirparticularstyleortastemuchlongerthanthedesignofaparticularmodeofdressorfurniture。 Itisonlybecauseofthegreaterpermanenceoftheirfashion,whichpreventsourhavingmuchexperienceofanychangeinthem,thatmakesitlesseasyforustorecognizethattheruleswethinkoughttobeobservedineachofthefineartsarenomorefoundedonreasonandthenatureofthingsthantheyareinthematterofourfurnitureanddress。 Inarchitecture,forinstance,noreasoncanbeassignedbeyondhabitandcustomfortheproprietyofattachingtoeachofthefiveorderstheirpeculiarornaments。Theeye,havingbeenusedtoassociateacertainornamentationwithacertainorder,wouldbeoffendedatmissingtheirconjunction;butitisinconceivablethat,priortoestablishedcustom,fivehundredotherformsshouldnothavesuitedthoseproportionsequallywell。 Itisthesameinpoetry。Theancientsthoughtthatacertainspeciesofversewasbynatureappropriatedtoaparticularspeciesofwriting,accordingtothesentimentorcharacterintendedtobedescribed。Onekindofversewasfitforgraveandanotherforgaythemes,norcouldeitherbeinterchangedwithoutthegreatestimpropriety。YetthatwhichistheverseofburlesqueinEnglishistheheroicverseinFrench,simplybecause\"customhasmadetheonenationassociatetheideasofgravity,sublimity,andseriousnesswiththatmeasurewhichtheotherhasconnectedwithwhateverisgay,flippant,andludicrous。\" Custominfluencesourjudgmentnolesswithregardtothebeautyofnaturalobjects;andtheproportionswhichweadmireinonekindofanimalarequitedifferentfromthoseweadmireinanother。Everyclassofthingshasabeautyofitsown,distinctfromthatofeveryotherspecies。 AdamSmithstopsshort,however,ofadoptingthetheory,soablyadvocatedinthelastcenturybytheJesuitBuffier,andfollowedbySirJoshuaReynolds,thatcustomisthesoleprincipleofbeauty,andthatthebeautyofeveryobjectconsistssimplyinthatformandcolourwhichismostmoralineveryparticularclassofthings。AccordingtoBuffier,ineachspeciesofcreatures,thatformwasmostbeautifulwhichborethestrongestcharacterofthegeneralfabricofitsspecies,andhadthestrongestresemblancetothegreaternumberoftheindividualswithwhichitwasclassed。Hencethemostcustomaryformwasthemostbeautiful,andmuchpracticewasneededtojudgeofthebeautyofdistinctspeciesofthings,ortoknowwhereinthemiddleormostusualformconsisted。Hence,too,differentideasofbeautyexistedindifferentcountries,wheredifferenceofclimateproduceddifferenceoftype。AdamSmithsofaragreeswiththisdoctrineastoacknowledgethatthereisscarcelyanyexternalformsobeautifulastoplease,ifquitecontrarytocustom,noranysodeformedasnottobeagreeable,ifuniformlysupportedbyit;buthealsoarguesthat,independentlyofcustom,wearepleasedbytheappearanceoftheutilityofanyformbyitsfitnessforthepurposesforwhichitwasintended。Certaincolours,moreover,aremoreagreeablethanothers,eventhefirsttimetheyarebeheldbyus;andthoughhedoesnotlaythesamestressonsmoothnessasBurkedid,whoheldthatnothingwasbeautifulthatwasnotsmooth,healsoadmitsthatasmoothsurfaceisnaturallymoreagreeablethanaroughone。 Theinfluenceofcustomandfashionuponourideasofbeautygenerallybeingsogreatashasbeenexplained,whatistheirinfluenceuponourideasofbeautyofconduct?Tothistheansweris,thattheirinfluenceisperfectlysimilarinkind,thoughnotsogreat,orratherlesspotent,overmoralsthanitisoveranythingelse。Althoughthereisnoformofexternalobjectstowhichcustomwillnotreconcileus,norfashionrenderagreeabletous,thecharactersortheconductofaNerooraClaudiusarewhatnocustomcanevermakeagreeable,orotherthantheobjectsofourhatredorderision;forthesentimentsofmoralapprobationanddisapprobationarefoundedonthestrongestpassionsofhumannature,and,thoughtheycanbewarpt,theycanneverbeperverted。 Justascustomdiminishesoursenseoftheimproprietyof\'thingswhichweareaccustomedtoseetogether,asinthecaseofabsurdityofdress,sofamiliarityfromyouthupwardswithviolence,falsehood,andinjusticetakesawayallsenseoftheenormityofsuchconduct;and,ontheotherhand,whencustomandfashioncoincidewiththeprinciplesofrightandwrong,theyenhanceourmoralideasandincreaseourabhorrenceforeverythingevil。\"Thosewhohavebeeneducatedinwhatisreallygoodcompanynotinwhatiscommonlycalledsuchwhohavebeenaccustomedtoseenothinginthepersonswhomtheyesteemedandlivedwithbutjustice,modesty,humanityandgoodorder,aremoreshockedwithwhateverseemstobeinconsistentwiththeruleswhichthosevirtuesprescribe。\" Customaffordsanexplanationofthedifferentideasofgoodconductprevalentindifferentdegreesofcivilization。Foreveryageandcountrylookuponthatdegreeofeachqualitywhichismostusualinthoseamongthemselveswhoaremostesteemedasthegoldenmeanofthatparticulartalentorvirtue。Theirsentimentsconcerningthedegreeofeachqualitythatdeservespraiseorblamevaryaccordingtothedegreewhichismostcommonintheirowncountryandtimes;thus,thatdegreeofpolitenesswhichmightbethoughteffeminateadulationinRussiamightberegardedasbarbarousrudenessinFrance。 Ingeneral,thestyleofmannersprevalentinanynationisthatwhichismostsuitabletoitssituation。Thatwhichismostsuitablebeing,then,thatwhichisnaturallymostcom-mon,differentstandardsarisewithregardtothegeneralproprietyofbehaviour。Asavage,incontinualdanger,orexposedtofrequentwant,acquiresahardinessofcharacter,aninsensibilitytothesufferingsofhimselforothers,whichismostsuitabletothecircumstancesofhissituation,andwhichaffordsaverydifferentstandardofself-commandthanthatwhichiseitherusualornecessaryincivilizedlife。Thegeneralsecurityandhappinesswhichprevailinagesofculture,byaffordinglittleexercisetocontemptofdanger,ortotheenduranceofpainorhunger,enablethevirtueswhicharefoundedonhumanitytobemorecultivatedthanthosewhicharefoundedonself-denial;sothattocomplainwheninpain,togrieveindistress,tobeovercomebyloveoranger,arenotregardedasweaknesses,astheywouldbeinsavagelife,norasaffectingtheessentialpartsofaman\'scharacter。 Inthedifferentprofessionsandagesoflifethesameinfluenceofcustommaybetraced。Ineachrankandprofessionweexpectadegreeofthosemannerswhichexperiencehastaughtustolookforinthem。Asineachspeciesofnaturalobjectswearepleasedwiththeconformitytothegeneraltype,soineachspeciesofmenwearepleased,\"iftheyhaveneithertoomuchnortoolittleofthecharacterwhichusuallyaccompaniestheirparticularconditionandsituation。\"Ourapprobationofacertainkindofmilitarycharacterisfoundedentirelyonhabit;forwearetaughtbycustomtoannextothemilitaryprofession\"thecharacterofgaiety,levity,andsprightlyfreedom,aswellasofsomedegreeofdissipation。\"Whateverbehaviourwehavebeenaccustomedtoseeinanyorderofmen,comestobesoassociatedwiththatorder,thatwheneverweseetheoneweexpecttoseetheother,andarepleasedordisappointedaccordingasweseeitornot。Nevertheless,theremayexistaproprietyofprofessionalbehaviour,independentofthecustomwhichleadsustoexpectit;andwefeelthat,apartfromallcustom,thereisaproprietyinthegravityofmannerswhichcustomhasallottedtotheprofessionofaclergyman。