But，thoughhemaybeobligedtohisfriendsfortheirgoodopinion，hewouldthinkhimselfguiltyofthegreatestbasenessifhedidnotimmediatelyundeceivethem。Itgiveshimlittlepleasuretolookuponhimselfinthelightinwhichotherpeopleactuallylookuponhim，whenheisconsciousthat，iftheyknewthetruth，theywouldlookuponhiminaverydifferentlight。Aweakman，however，isoftenmuchdelightedwithviewinghimselfinthisfalseanddelusivelight。Heassumesthemeritofeverylaudableactionthatisascribedtohim，andpretendstothatofmanywhichnobodyeverthoughtofascribingtohim。Hepretendstohavedonewhatheneverdid，tohavewrittenwhatanotherwrote，tohaveinventedwhatanotherdiscovered；andisledintoallthemiserablevicesofplagiarismandcommonlying。Butthoughnomanofmiddlinggoodsensecanderivemuchpleasurefromtheimputationofalaudableactionwhichheneverperformed，yetawisemanmaysuffergreatpainfromtheseriousimputationofacrimewhichhenevercommitted。Nature，inthiscase，hasrenderedthepain，notonlymorepungentthantheoppositeandcorrespondentpleasure，butshehasrendereditsoinamuchgreaterthantheordinarydegree。Adenialridsamanatonceofthefoolishandridiculouspleasure；butitwillnotalwaysridhimofthepain。Whenherefusesthemeritwhichisascribedtohim，nobodydoubtshisveracity。Itmaybedoubtedwhenhedeniesthecrimewhichheisaccusedof。Heisatonceenragedatthefalsehoodoftheimputation，andmortifiedtofindthatanycreditshouldbegiventoit。Hefeelsthathischaracterisnotsufficienttoprotecthim。Hefeelsthathisbrethren，farfromlookinguponhiminthatlightinwhichheanxiouslydesirestobeviewedbythem，thinkhimcapableofbeingguiltyofwhatheisaccusedof。Heknowsperfectlythathehasnotbeenguilty。Heknowsperfectlywhathehasdone；but，perhaps，scarceanymancanknowperfectlywhathehimselfiscapableofdoing。Whatthepeculiarconstitutionofhisownmindmayormaynotadmitof，is，perhaps，moreorlessamatterofdoubttoeveryman。Thetrustandgoodopinionofhisfriendsandneighbours，tendsmorethananythingtorelievehimfromthismostdisagreeabledoubt；theirdistrustandunfavourableopiniontoincreaseit。Hemaythinkhimselfveryconfidentthattheirunfavourablejudgmentiswrong:
butthisconfidencecanseldombesogreatastohinderthatjudgmentfrommakingsomeimpressionuponhim；andthegreaterhissensibility，thegreaterhisdelicacy，thegreaterhisworthinshort，thisimpressionislikelytobethegreater。
Theagreementordisagreementbothofthesentimentsandjudgmentsofotherpeoplewithourown，is，inallcases，itmustbeobserved，ofmoreorlessimportancetous，exactlyinproportionasweourselvesaremoreorlessuncertainabouttheproprietyofourownsentiments，abouttheaccuracyofourownjudgments。
Amanofsensibilitymaysometimesfeelgreatuneasinesslestheshouldhaveyieldedtoomucheventowhatmaybecalledanhonourablepassion；tohisjustindignation，perhaps，attheinjurywhichmayhavebeendoneeithertohimselfortohisfriend。Heisanxiouslyafraidlest，meaningonlytoactwithspirit，andtodojustice，hemay，fromthetoogreatvehemenceofhisemotion，havedonearealinjurytosomeotherperson；
who，thoughnotinnocent，maynothavebeenaltogethersoguiltyasheatfirstapprehended。Theopinionofotherpeoplebecomes，inthiscase，oftheutmostimportancetohim。Theirapprobationisthemosthealingbalsam；theirdisapprobation，thebitterestandmosttormentingpoisonthatcanbepouredintohisuneasymind。Whenheisperfectlysatisfiedwitheverypartofhisownconduct，thejudgmentofotherpeopleisoftenoflessimportancetohim。
Therearesomeverynobleandbeautifularts，inwhichthedegreeofexcellencecanbedeterminedonlybyacertainnicetyoftaste，ofwhichthedecisions，however，appearalways，insomemeasure，uncertain。Thereareothers，inwhichthesuccessadmits，eitherofcleardemonstration，orverysatisfactoryproof。Amongthecandidatesforexcellenceinthosedifferentarts，theanxietyaboutthepublicopinionisalwaysmuchgreaterintheformerthaninthelatter。
Thebeautyofpoetryisamatterofsuchnicety，thatayoungbeginnercanscarceeverbecertainthathehasattainedit。
Nothingdelightshimsomuch，therefore，asthefavourablejudgmentsofhisfriendsandofthepublic；andnothingmortifieshimsoseverelyasthecontrary。Theoneestablishes，theothershakes，thegoodopinionwhichheisanxioustoentertainconcerninghisownperformances。Experienceandsuccessmayintimegivehimalittlemoreconfidenceinhisownjudgment。Heisatalltimes，however，liabletobemostseverelymortifiedbytheunfavourablejudgmentsofthepublic。RacinewassodisgustedbytheindifferentsuccessofhisPhaedra，thefinesttragedy，perhaps，thatisextantinanylanguage，that，thoughinthevigourofhislife，andattheheightofhisabilities，heresolvedtowritenomoreforthestage。Thatgreatpoetusedfrequentlytotellhisson，thatthemostpaltryandimpertinentcriticismhadalwaysgivenhimmorepain，thanthehighestandjustesteulogyhadevergivenhimpleasure。TheextremesensibilityofVoltairetotheslightestcensureofthesamekindiswellknowntoeverybody。TheDunciadofMrPopeisaneverlastingmonumentofhowmuchthemostcorrect，aswellasthemostelegantandharmoniousofalltheEnglishpoets，hadbeenhurtbythecriticismsofthelowestandmostcontemptibleauthors。Gray(whojoinstothesublimityofMiltontheeleganceandharmonyofPope，andtowhomnothingiswantingtorenderhim，perhaps，thefirstpoetintheEnglishlanguage，buttohavewrittenalittlemore)issaidtohavebeensomuchhurt，byafoolishandimpertinentparodyoftwoofhisfinestodes，thatheneverafterwardsattemptedanyconsiderablework。Thosemenofletterswhovaluethemselvesuponwhatiscalledfinewritinginprose，approachsomewhattothesensibilityofpoets。
Mathematicians，onthecontrary，whomayhavethemostperfectassurance，bothofthetruthandoftheimportanceoftheirdiscoveries，arefrequentlyveryindifferentaboutthereceptionwhichtheymaymeetwithfromthepublic。ThetwogreatestmathematiciansthatIeverhavehadthehonourtobeknownto，and，Ibelieve，thetwogreatestthathavelivedinmytime，DrRobertSimpsonofGlasgow，andDrMatthewStewartofEdinburgh，neverseemedtofeeleventheslightestuneasinessfromtheneglectwithwhichtheignoranceofthepublicreceivedsomeoftheirmostvaluableworks。ThegreatworkofSirIsaacNewton，hisMathematicalPrinciplesofNaturalPhilosophy，Ihavebeentold，wasforseveralyearsneglectedbythepublic。Thetranquillityofthatgreatman，itisprobable，neversuffered，uponthataccount，theinterruptionofasinglequarterofanhour。Naturalphilosophers，intheirindependencyuponthepublicopinion，approachnearlytomathematicians，and，intheirjudgmentsconcerningthemeritoftheirowndiscoveriesandobservations，enjoysomedegreeofthesamesecurityandtranquillity。
Themoralsofthosedifferentclassesofmenoflettersare，perhaps，sometimessomewhataffectedbythisverygreatdifferenceintheirsituationwithregardtothepublic。
Mathematiciansandnaturalphilosophers，fromtheirindependencyuponthepublicopinion，havelittletemptationtoformthemselvesintofactionsandcabals，eitherforthesupportoftheirownreputation，orforthedepressionofthatoftheirrivals。Theyarealmostalwaysmenofthemostamiablesimplicityofmanners，wholiveingoodharmonywithoneanother，arethefriendsofoneanother’sreputation，enterintonointrigueinordertosecurethepublicapplause，butarepleasedwhentheirworksareapprovedof，withoutbeingeithermuchvexedorveryangrywhentheyareneglected。
Itisnotalwaysthesamecasewithpoets，orwiththosewhovaluethemselvesuponwhatiscalledfinewriting。Theyareveryapttodividethemselvesintoasortofliteraryfactions；eachcabalbeingoftenavowedly，andalmostalwayssecretly，themortalenemyofthereputationofeveryother，andemployingallthemeanartsofintrigueandsolicitationtopreoccupythepublicopinioninfavouroftheworksofitsownmembers，andagainstthoseofitsenemiesandrivals。InFrance，DespreauxandRacinedidnotthinkitbelowthemtosetthemselvesattheheadofaliterarycabal，inordertodepressthereputation，firstofQuinaultandPerreault，andafterwardsofFontenelleandLaMotte，andeventotreatthegoodLaFontainewithaspeciesofmostdisrespectfulkindness。InEngland，theamiableMrAddisondidnotthinkitunworthyofhisgentleandmodestcharactertosethimselfattheheadofalittlecabalofthesamekind，inordertokeepdowntherisingreputationofMrPope。MrFontenelle，inwritingthelivesandcharactersofthemembersoftheacademyofsciences，asocietyofmathematiciansandnaturalphilosophers，hasfrequentopportunitiesofcelebratingtheamiablesimplicityoftheirmanners；aqualitywhich，heobserves，wassouniversalamongthemastobecharacteristical，ratherofthatwholeclassofmenofletters，thanofanyindividualMrD’Alembert，inwritingthelivesandcharactersofthemembersoftheFrenchacademy，asocietyofpoetsandfinewriters，orofthosewhoaresupposedtobesuch，seemsnottohavehadsuchfrequentopportunitiesofmakinganyremarkofthiskind，andnowherepretendstorepresentthisamiablequalityascharacteristicalofthatclassofmenofletterswhomhecelebrates。
Ouruncertaintyconcerningourownmerit，andouranxietytothinkfavourablyofit，shouldtogethernaturallyenoughmakeusdesiroustoknowtheopinionofotherpeopleconcerningit；tobemorethanordinarilyelevatedwhenthatopinionisfavourable，andtobemorethanordinarilymortifiedwhenitisotherwise:
buttheyshouldnotmakeusdesirouseitherofobtainingthefavourable，orofavoidingtheunfavourableopinion，byintrigueandcabal。Whenamanhasbribedallthejudges，themostunanimousdecisionofthecourt，thoughitmaygainhimhislaw-suit，cannotgivehimanyassurancethathewasintheright:
andhadhecarriedonhislawsuitmerelytosatisfyhimselfthathewasintheright，heneverwouldhavebribedthejudges。Butthoughhewishedtofindhimselfintheright，hewishedlikewisetogainhislaw-suit；andthereforehebribedthejudges。Ifpraisewereofnoconsequencetous，butasaproofofourownpraiseworthiness，wenevershouldendeavourtoobtainitbyunfairmeans。But，thoughtowisemenitis，atleastindoubtfulcases，ofprincipalconsequenceuponthisaccount；itislikewiseofsomeconsequenceuponitsownaccount:andtherefore(wecannot，indeed，uponsuchoccasions，callthemwisemen，but)menverymuchabovethecommonlevelhavesometimesattemptedbothtoobtainpraise，andtoavoidblame，byveryunfairmeans。
Praiseandblameexpresswhatactuallyare；praise-worthinessandblameworthiness，whatnaturallyoughttobethesentimentsofotherpeoplewithregardtoourcharacterandconduct。Theloveofpraiseisthedesireofobtainingthefavourablesentimentsofourbrethren。Theloveofpraiseworthinessisthedesireofrenderingourselvestheproperobjectsofthosesentiments。Sofarthosetwoprinciplesresembleandareakintooneanother。
Thelikeaffinityandresemblancetakeplacebetweenthedreadofblameandthatofblame-worthiness。
Themanwhodesirestodo，orwhoactuallydoes，apraise-worthyaction，maylikewisedesirethepraisewhichisduetoit，andsometimes，perhaps，morethanisduetoit。Thetwoprinciplesareinthiscaseblendedtogether。Howfarhisconductmayhavebeeninfluencedbytheone，andhowfarbytheother，mayfrequentlybeunknowneventohimself。Itmustalmostalwaysbesotootherpeople。Theywhoaredisposedtolessenthemeritofhisconduct，imputeitchieflyoraltogethertothemereloveofpraise，ortowhattheycallmerevanity。Theywhoaredisposedtothinkmorefavourablyofit，imputeitchieflyoraltogethertotheloveofpraise-worthiness；totheloveofwhatisreallyhonourableandnobleinhumanconduct；tothedesire，notmerelyofobtaining，butofdeservingtheapprobationandapplauseofhisbrethren。Theimaginationofthespectatorthrowsuponiteithertheonecolourortheother，accordingeithertohishabitsofthinking，ortothefavourordislikewhichhemaybeartothepersonwhoseconductheisconsidering。
Somespleneticphilosophers，injudgingofhumannature，havedoneaspeevishindividualsareapttodoinjudgingoftheconductofoneanother，andhaveimputedtotheloveofpraise，ortowhattheycallvanity，everyactionwhichoughttobeascribedtothatofpraise-worthiness。Ishallhereafterhaveoccasiontogiveanaccountofsomeoftheirsystems，andshallnotatpresentstoptoexaminethem。
Veryfewmencanbesatisfiedwiththeirownprivateconsciousnessthattheyhaveattainedthosequalities，orperformedthoseactions，whichtheyadmireandthinkpraise-worthyinotherpeople；unlessitis，atthesametime，generallyacknowledgedthattheypossesstheone，orhaveperformedtheother；or，inotherwords，unlesstheyhaveactuallyobtainedthatpraisewhichtheythinkduebothtotheoneandtotheother。Inthisrespect，however，mendifferconsiderablyfromoneanother。Someseemindifferentaboutthepraise，when，intheirownminds，theyareperfectlysatisfiedthattheyhaveattainedthepraise-worthiness。Othersappearmuchlessanxiousaboutthepraise-worthinessthanaboutthepraise。
