首页 >出版文学> Adam Smith>第5章

第5章

  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。"6Thestateofthelawonlyreflectsthenaturalfeelingsofindividuals,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。