Asthegreaterandmoreirreparabletheevilthatisdone，theresentmentofthesuffererrunsnaturallythehigher；sodoeslikewisethesympatheticindignationofthespectator，aswellasthesenseofguiltintheagent。Deathisthegreatestevilwhichonemancaninflictuponanother，andexcitesthehighestdegreeofresentmentinthosewhoareimmediatelyconnectedwiththeslain。Murder，therefore，isthemostatrociousofallcrimeswhichaffectindividualsonly，inthesightbothofmankind，andofthepersonwhohascommittedit。Tobedeprivedofthatwhichwearepossessedof，isagreaterevilthantobedisappointedofwhatwehaveonlytheexpectation。Breachofproperty，therefore，theftandrobbery，whichtakefromuswhatwearepossessedof，aregreatercrimesthanbreachofcontract，whichonlydisappointsusofwhatweexpected。Themostsacredlawsofjustice，therefore，thosewhoseviolationseemstocallloudestforvengeanceandpunishment，arethelawswhichguardthelifeandpersonofourneighbour；thenextarethosewhichguardhispropertyandpossessions；andlastofallcomethosewhichguardwhatarecalledhispersonalrights，orwhatisduetohimfromthepromisesofothers。
Theviolatorofthemoresacredlawsofjusticecanneverreflectonthesentimentswhichmankindmustentertainwithregardtohim，withoutfeelingalltheagoniesofshame，andhorror，andconsternation。Whenhispassionisgratified，andhebeginscoollytoreflectonhispastconduct，hecanenterintononeofthemotiveswhichinfluencedit。Theyappearnowasdetestabletohimastheydidalwaystootherpeople。Bysympathizingwiththehatredandabhorrencewhichothermenmustentertainforhim，hebecomesinsomemeasuretheobjectofhisownhatredandabhorrence。Thesituationoftheperson，whosufferedbyhisinjustice，nowcallsuponhispity。Heisgrievedatthethoughtofit；regretstheunhappyeffectsofhisownconduct，andfeelsatthesametimethattheyhaverenderedhimtheproperobjectoftheresentmentandindignationofmankind，andofwhatisthenaturalconsequenceofresentment，vengeanceandpunishment。Thethoughtofthisperpetuallyhauntshim，andfillshimwithterrorandamazement。Hedaresnolongerlooksocietyintheface，butimagineshimselfasitwererejected，andthrownoutfromtheaffectionsofallmankind。Hecannothopefortheconsolationofsympathyinthishisgreatestandmostdreadfuldistress。Theremembranceofhiscrimeshasshutoutallfellow-feelingwithhimfromtheheartsofhisfellow-creatures。
Thesentimentswhichtheyentertainwithregardtohim，aretheverythingwhichheismostafraidof。Everythingseemshostile，andhewouldbegladtoflytosomeinhospitabledesert，wherehemightnevermorebeholdthefaceofahumancreature，norreadinthecountenanceofmankindthecondemnationofhiscrimes。Butsolitudeisstillmoredreadfulthansociety。Hisownthoughtscanpresenthimwithnothingbutwhatisblack，unfortunate，anddisastrous，themelancholyforebodingsofincomprehensiblemiseryandruin。Thehorrorofsolitudedriveshimbackintosociety，andhecomesagainintothepresenceofmankind，astonishedtoappearbeforethem，loadedwithshameanddistractedwithfear，inordertosupplicatesomelittleprotectionfromthecountenanceofthoseveryjudges，whoheknowshavealreadyallunanimouslycondemnedhim。Suchisthenatureofthatsentiment，whichisproperlycalledremorse；ofallthesentimentswhichcanenterthehumanbreastthemostdreadful。Itismadeupofshamefromthesenseoftheimproprietyofpastconduct；ofgrieffortheeffectsofit；ofpityforthosewhosufferbyit；andofthedreadandterrorofpunishmentfromtheconsciousnessofthejustlyprovokedresentmentofallrationalcreatures。
Theoppositebehaviournaturallyinspirestheoppositesentiment。Themanwho，notfromfrivolousfancy，butfrompropermotives，hasperformedagenerousaction，whenhelooksforwardtothosewhomhehasserved，feelshimselftobethenaturalobjectoftheirloveandgratitude，and，bysympathywiththem，oftheesteemandapprobationofallmankind。Andwhenhelooksbackwardtothemotivefromwhichheacted，andsurveysitinthelightinwhichtheindifferentspectatorwillsurveyit，hestillcontinuestoenterintoit，andapplaudshimselfbysympathywiththeapprobationofthissupposedimpartialjudge。Inboththesepointsofviewhisownconductappearstohimeverywayagreeable。Hismind，atthethoughtofit，isfilledwithcheerfulness，serenity，andcomposure。Heisinfriendshipandharmonywithallmankind，andlooksuponhisfellow-creatureswithconfidenceandbenevolentsatisfaction，securethathehasrenderedhimselfworthyoftheirmostfavourableregards。Inthecombinationofallthesesentimentsconsiststheconsciousnessofmerit，orofdeservedreward。
OftheutilityofthisconstitutionofNatureItisthusthatman，whocansubsistonlyinsociety，wasfittedbynaturetothatsituationforwhichhewasmade。Allthemembersofhumansocietystandinneedofeachothersassistance，andarelikewiseexposedtomutualinjuries。Wherethenecessaryassistanceisreciprocallyaffordedfromlove，fromgratitude，fromfriendship，andesteem，thesocietyflourishesandishappy。
Allthedifferentmembersofitareboundtogetherbytheagreeablebandsofloveandaffection，andare，asitwere，drawntoonecommoncentreofmutualgoodoffices。
Butthoughthenecessaryassistanceshouldnotbeaffordedfromsuchgenerousanddisinterestedmotives，thoughamongthedifferentmembersofthesocietythereshouldbenomutualloveandaffection，thesociety，thoughlesshappyandagreeable，willnotnecessarilybedissolved。Societymaysubsistamongdifferentmen，asamongdifferentmerchants，fromasenseofitsutility，withoutanymutualloveoraffection；andthoughnomaninitshouldoweanyobligation，orbeboundingratitudetoanyother，itmaystillbeupheldbyamercenaryexchangeofgoodofficesaccordingtoanagreedvaluation。
Society，however，cannotsubsistamongthosewhoareatalltimesreadytohurtandinjureoneanother。Themomentthatinjurybegins，themomentthatmutualresentmentandanimositytakeplace，allthebandsofitarebrokeasunder，andthedifferentmembersofwhichitconsistedare，asitwere，dissipatedandscatteredabroadbytheviolenceandoppositionoftheirdiscordantaffections。Ifthereisanysocietyamongrobbersandmurderers，theymustatleast，accordingtothetriteobservation，abstainfromrobbingandmurderingoneanother。
Beneficence，therefore，islessessentialtotheexistenceofsocietythanjustice。Societymaysubsist，thoughnotinthemostcomfortablestate，withoutbeneficence；huttheprevalenceofinjusticemustutterlydestroyit。
ThoughNature，therefore，exhortsmankindtoactsofbeneficence，bythepleasingconsciousnessofdeservedreward，shehasnotthoughtitnecessarytoguardandenforcethepracticeofitbytheterrorsofmeritedpunishmentincaseitshouldbeneglected。Itistheornamentwhichembellishes，notthefoundationwhichsupportsthebuilding，andwhichitwas，therefore，sufficienttorecommend，butbynomeansnecessarytoimpose。Justice，onthecontrary，isthemainpillarthatupholdsthewholeedifice。Ifitisremoved，thegreat，theimmensefabricofhumansociety，thatfabricwhichtoraiseandsupportseemsinthisworld，ifImaysayso，tohavebeenthepeculiaranddarlingcareofNature，mustinamomentcrumbleintoatoms。
Inordertoenforcetheobservationofjustice，therefore，Naturehasimplantedinthehumanbreastthatconsciousnessofill-desert，thoseterrorsofmeritedpunishmentwhichattenduponitsviolation，asthegreatsafe-guardsoftheassociationofmankind，toprotecttheweak，tocurbtheviolent，andtochastisetheguilty。Men，thoughnaturallysympathetic，feelsolittleforanother，withwhomtheyhavenoparticularconnexion，incomparisonofwhattheyfeelforthemselves；themiseryofone，whoismerelytheirfellow-creature，isofsolittleimportancetothemincomparisonevenofasmallconveniencyoftheirown；theyhaveitsomuchintheirpowertohurthim，andmayhavesomanytemptationstodoso，thatifthisprincipledidnotstandupwithintheminhisdefence，andoverawethemintoarespectforhisinnocence，theywould，likewildbeasts，beatalltimesreadytoflyuponhim；andamanwouldenteranassemblyofmenasheentersadenoflions。
Ineverypartoftheuniverseweobservemeansadjustedwiththenicestartificetotheendswhichtheyareintendedtoproduce；andinthemechanismofaplant，oranimalbody，admirehoweverythingiscontrivedforadvancingthetwogreatpurposesofnature，thesupportoftheindividual，andthepropagationofthespecies。Butinthese，andinallsuchobjects，westilldistinguishtheefficientfromthefinalcauseoftheirseveralmotionsandorganizations。Thedigestionofthefood，thecirculationoftheblood，andthesecretionoftheseveraljuiceswhicharedrawnfromit，areoperationsallofthemnecessaryforthegreatpurposesofanimallife。Yetweneverendeavourtoaccountforthemfromthosepurposesasfromtheirefficientcauses，norimaginethatthebloodcirculates，orthatthefooddigestsofitsownaccord，andwithavieworintentiontothepurposesofcirculationordigestion。Thewheelsofthewatcharealladmirablyadjustedtotheendforwhichitwasmade，thepointingofthehour。Alltheirvariousmotionsconspireinthenicestmannertoproducethiseffect。Iftheywereendowedwithadesireandintentiontoproduceit，theycouldnotdoitbetter。
Yetweneverascribeanysuchdesireorintentiontothem，buttothewatch-maker，andweknowthattheyareputintomotionbyaspring，whichintendstheeffectitproducesaslittleastheydo。Butthough，inaccountingfortheoperationsofbodies，weneverfailtodistinguishinthismannertheefficientfromthefinalcause，inaccountingforthoseofthemindweareveryapttoconfoundthesetwodifferentthingswithoneanother。Whenbynaturalprinciplesweareledtoadvancethoseends，whicharefinedandenlightenedreasonwouldrecommendtous，weareveryapttoimputetothatreason，astotheirefficientcause，thesentimentsandactionsbywhichweadvancethoseends，andtoimaginethattobethewisdomofman，whichinrealityisthewisdomofGod。Uponasuperficialview，thiscauseseemssufficienttoproducetheeffectswhichareascribedtoit；andthesystemofhumannatureseemstobemoresimpleandagreeablewhenallitsdifferentoperationsareinthismannerdeducedfromasingleprinciple。
Associetycannotsubsistunlessthelawsofjusticearetolerablyobserved，asnosocialintercoursecantakeplaceamongmenwhodonotgenerallyabstainfrominjuringoneanother；theconsiderationofthisnecessity，ithasbeenthought，wasthegrounduponwhichweapprovedoftheenforcementofthelawsofjusticebythepunishmentofthosewhoviolatedthem。Man，ithasbeensaid，hasanaturalloveforsociety，anddesiresthattheunionofmankindshouldbepreservedforitsownsake，andthoughhehimselfwastoderivenobenefitfromit。Theorderlyandflourishingstateofsocietyisagreeabletohim，andhetakesdelightincontemplatingit。Itsdisorderandconfusion，onthecontrary，istheobjectofhisaversion，andheischagrinedatwhatevertendstoproduceit。Heissensibletoothathisowninterestisconnectedwiththeprosperityofsociety，andthatthehappiness，perhapsthepreservationofhisexistence，dependsuponitspreservation。Uponeveryaccount，therefore，hehasanabhorrenceatwhatevercantendtodestroysociety，andiswillingtomakeuseofeverymeans，whichcanhindersohatedandsodreadfulanevent。Injusticenecessarilytendstodestroyit。
Everyappearanceofinjustice，therefore，alarmshim，andheruns，ifImaysayso，tostoptheprogressofwhat，ifallowedtogoon，wouldquicklyputanendtoeverythingthatisdeartohim。Ifhecannotrestrainitbygentleandfairmeans，hemustbeatitdownbyforceandviolence，andatanyratemustputastoptoitsfurtherprogress。Henceitis，theysay，thatheoftenapprovesoftheenforcementofthelawsofjusticeevenbythecapitalpunishmentofthosewhoviolatethem。Thedisturberofthepublicpeaceisherebyremovedoutoftheworld，andothersareterrifiedbyhisfatefromimitatinghisexample。
Suchistheaccountcommonlygivenofourapprobationofthepunishmentofinjustice。Andsofarthisaccountisundoubtedlytrue，thatwefrequentlyhaveoccasiontoconfirmournaturalsenseoftheproprietyandfitnessofpunishment，byreflectinghownecessaryitisforpreservingtheorderofsociety。Whentheguiltyisabouttosufferthatjustretaliation，whichthenaturalindignationofmankindtellsthemisduetohiscrimes；
