Eventhemeritoftalentsandabilitieswhichsomeaccidenthashinderedfromproducingtheireffects，seemsinsomemeasureimperfect，eventothosewhoarefullyconvincedoftheircapacitytoproducethem。Thegeneralwhohasbeenhinderedbytheenvyofministersfromgainingsomegreatadvantageovertheenemiesofhiscountry，regretsthelossoftheopportunityforeverafter。Norisitonlyuponaccountofthepublicthatheregretsit。Helamentsthathewashinderedfromperforminganactionwhichwouldhaveaddedanewlustretohischaracterinhisowneyes，aswellasinthoseofeveryotherperson。Itsatisfiesneitherhimselfnorotherstoreflectthattheplanordesignwasallthatdependedonhim，thatnogreatercapacitywasrequiredtoexecuteitthanwhatwasnecessarytoconcertit:
　　thathewasallowedtobeeverywaycapableofexecutingit，andthathadhebeenpermittedtogoon，successwasinfallible。Hestilldidnotexecuteit；andthoughhemightdeservealltheapprobationwhichisduetoamagnanimousandgreatdesign，hestillwantedtheactualmeritofhavingperformedagreataction。
　　Totakethemanagementofanyaffairofpublicconcernfromthemanwhohasalmostbroughtittoaconclusion，isregardedasthemostinvidiousinjustice。Ashehaddonesomuch，heshould，wethink，havebeenallowedtoacquirethecompletemeritofputtinganendtoit。ItwasobjectedtoPompey，thathecameinuponthevictoriesofLucullus，andgatheredthoselaurelswhichwereduetothefortuneandvalourofanother。ThegloryofLucullus，itseems，waslesscompleteevenintheopinionofhisownfriends，whenhewasnotpermittedtofinishthatconquestwhichhisconductandcouragehadputinthepowerofalmostanymantofinish。Itmortifiesanarchitectwhenhisplansareeithernotexecutedatall，orwhentheyaresofaralteredastospoiltheeffectofthebuilding。Theplan，however，isallthatdependsuponthearchitect。Thewholeofhisgeniusis，togoodjudges，ascompletelydiscoveredinthatasintheactualexecution。Butaplandoesnot，eventothemostintelligent，givethesamepleasureasanobleandmagnificentbuilding。Theymaydiscoverasmuchbothoftasteandgeniusintheoneasintheother。Buttheireffectsarestillvastlydifferent，andtheamusementderivedfromthefirst，neverapproachestothewonderandadmirationwhicharesometimesexcitedbythesecond。Wemaybelieveofmanymen，thattheirtalentsaresuperiortothoseofCaesarandAlexander；andthatinthesamesituationstheywouldperformstillgreateractions。Inthemeantime，however，wedonotbeholdthemwiththatastonishmentandadmirationwithwhichthosetwoheroeshavebeenregardedinallagesandnations。Thecalmjudgmentsofthemindmayapproveofthemmore，buttheywantthesplendourofgreatactionstodazzleandtransportit。
　　Thesuperiorityofvirtuesandtalentshasnot，evenuponthosewhoacknowledgethatsuperiority，thesameeffectwiththesuperiorityofatchievements。
　　Asthemeritofanunsuccessfulattempttodogoodseemsthus，intheeyesofungratefulmankind，tobediminishedbythemiscarriage，sodoeslikewisethedemeritofanunsuccessfulattempttodoevil。Thedesigntocommitacrime，howclearlysoeveritmaybeproved，isscarceeverpunishedwiththesameseverityastheactualcommissionofit。Thecaseoftreasonisperhapstheonlyexception。Thatcrimeimmediatelyaffectingthebeingofthegovernmentitself，thegovernmentisnaturallymorejealousofitthanofanyother。Inthepunishmentoftreason，thesovereignresentstheinjurieswhichareimmediatelydonetohimself:inthepunishmentofothercrimes，heresentsthosewhicharedonetoothermen。Itishisownresentmentwhichheindulgesintheonecase:itisthatofhissubjectswhichbysympathyheentersintointheother。Inthefirstcase，therefore，ashejudgesinhisowncause，heisveryapttobemoreviolentandsanguinaryinhispunishmentsthantheimpartialspectatorcanapproveof。Hisresentmenttooriseshereuponsmalleroccasions，anddoesnotalways，asinothercases，waitfortheperpetrationofthecrime，orevenfortheattempttocommitit。Atreasonableconcert，thoughnothinghasbeendone，orevenattemptedinconsequenceofit，nay，atreasonableconversation，isinmanycountriespunishedinthesamemannerastheactualcommissionoftreason。Withregardtoallothercrimes，themeredesign，uponwhichnoattempthasfollowed，isseldompunishedatall，andisneverpunishedseverely。A
　　criminaldesign，andacriminalaction，itmaybesaidindeed，donotnecessarilysupposethesamedegreeofdepravity，andoughtnotthereforetobesubjectedtothesamepunishment。Wearecapable，itmaybesaid，ofresolving，andevenoftakingmeasurestoexecute，manythingswhich，whenitcomestothepoint，wefeelourselvesaltogetherincapableofexecuting。Butthisreasoncanhavenoplacewhenthedesignhasbeencarriedthelengthofthelastattempt。Theman，however，whofiresapistolathisenemybutmisseshim，ispunishedwithdeathbythelawsofscarceanycountry。BytheoldlawofScotland，thoughheshouldwoundhim，yet，unlessdeathensueswithinacertaintime，theassassinisnotliabletothelastpunishment。Theresentmentofmankind，however，runssohighagainstthiscrime，theirterrorforthemanwhoshowshimselfcapableofcommittingit，issogreat，thatthemereattempttocommititoughtinallcountriestobecapital。Theattempttocommitsmallercrimesisalmostalwayspunishedverylightly，andsometimesisnotpunishedatall。Thethief，whosehandhasbeencaughtinhisneighbour’spocketbeforehehadtakenanythingoutofit，ispunishedwithignominyonly。Ifhehadgottimetotakeawayanhandkerchief，hewouldhavebeenputtodeath。Thehouse-breaker，whohasbeenfoundsettingaladdertohisneighbour’swindow，buthadnotgotintoit，isnotexposedtothecapitalpunishment。Theattempttoravishisnotpunishedasarape。Theattempttoseduceamarriedwomanisnotpunishedatall，thoughseductionispunishedseverely。Ourresentmentagainstthepersonwhoonlyattemptedtodoamischief，isseldomsostrongastobearusoutininflictingthesamepunishmentuponhim，whichweshouldhavethoughtdueifhehadactuallydoneit。Intheonecase，thejoyofourdeliverancealleviatesoursenseoftheatrocityofhisconduct；intheother，thegriefofourmisfortuneincreasesit。Hisrealdemerit，however，isundoubtedlythesameinbothcases，sincehisintentionswereequallycriminal；andthereisinthisrespect，therefore，anirregularityinthesentimentsofallmen，andaconsequentrelaxationofdisciplineinthelawsof，Ibelieve，allnations，ofthemostcivilized，aswellasofthemostbarbarous。Thehumanityofacivilizedpeopledisposesthemeithertodispensewith，ortomitigatepunishmentswherevertheirnaturalindignationisnotgoadedonbytheconsequencesofthecrime。
　　Barbarians，ontheotherhand，whennoactualconsequencehashappenedfromanyaction，arenotapttobeverydelicateorinquisitiveaboutthemotives。
　　Thepersonhimselfwhoeitherfrompassion，orfromtheinfluenceofbadcompany，hasresolved，andperhapstakenmeasurestoperpetratesomecrime，butwhohasfortunatelybeenpreventedbyanaccidentwhichputitoutofhispower，issure，ifhehasanyremainsofconscience，toregardthiseventallhislifeafterasagreatandsignaldeliverance。HecanneverthinkofitwithoutreturningthankstoHeavenforhavingbeenthusgraciouslypleasedtosavehimfromtheguiltinwhichhewasjustreadytoplungehimself，andtohinderhimfromrenderingalltherestofhislifeasceneofhorror，remorse，andrepentance。Butthoughhishandsareinnocent，heisconsciousthathisheartisequallyguiltyasifhehadactuallyexecutedwhathewassofullyresolvedupon。Itgivesgreateasetohisconscience，however，toconsiderthatthecrimewasnotexecuted，thoughheknowsthatthefailurearosefromnovirtueinhim。Hestillconsidershimselfaslessdeservingofpunishmentandresentment；andthisgoodfortuneeitherdiminishes，ortakesawayaltogether，allsenseofguilt。Torememberhowmuchhewasresolveduponit，hasnoothereffectthantomakehimregardhisescapeasthegreaterandmoremiraculous:forhestillfanciesthathehasescaped，andhelooksbackuponthedangertowhichhispeaceofmindwasexposed，withthatterror，withwhichonewhoisinsafetymaysometimesrememberthehazardhewasinoffallingoveraprecipice，andshudderwithhorroratthethought。
　　2。Thesecondeffectofthisinfluenceoffortune，istoincreaseoursenseofthemeritordemeritofactionsbeyondwhatisduetothemotivesoraffectionfromwhichtheyproceed，whentheyhappentogiveoccasiontoextraordinarypleasureorpain。
　　Theagreeableordisagreeableeffectsoftheactionoftenthrowashadowofmeritordemeritupontheagent，thoughinhisintentiontherewasnothingthatdeservedeitherpraiseorblame，oratleastthatdeservedtheminthedegreeinwhichweareapttobestowthem。Thus，eventhemessengerofbadnewsisdisagreeabletous，and，onthecontrary，wefeelasortofgratitudeforthemanwhobringsusgoodtidings。Foramomentwelookuponthembothastheauthors，theoneofourgood，theotherofourbadfortune，andregardtheminsomemeasureasiftheyhadreallybroughtabouttheeventswhichtheyonlygiveanaccountof。Thefirstauthorofourjoyisnaturallytheobjectofatransitorygratitude:weembracehimwithwarmthandaffection，andshouldbeglad，duringtheinstantofourprosperity，torewardhimasforsomesignalservice。Bythecustomofallcourts，theofficer，whobringsthenewsofavictory，isentitledtoconsiderablepreferments，andthegeneralalwayschusesoneofhisprincipalfavouritestogouponsoagreeableanerrand。Thefirstauthorofoursorrowis，onthecontrary，justasnaturallytheobjectofatransitoryresentment。Wecanscarceavoidlookinguponhimwithchagrinanduneasiness；andtherudeandbrutalareapttoventuponhimthatspleenwhichhisintelligencegivesoccasionto。Tigranes，kingofArmenia，struckofftheheadofthemanwhobroughthimthefirstaccountoftheapproachofaformidableenemy。Topunishinthismannertheauthorofbadtidings，seemsbarbarousandinhuman:yet，torewardthemessengerofgoodnews，isnotdisagreeabletous；wethinkitsuitabletothebountyofkings。
　　Butwhydowemakethisdifference，since，ifthereisnofaultintheone，neitheristhereanymeritintheother？Itisbecauseanysortofreasonseemssufficienttoauthorizetheexertionofthesocialandbenevolentaffections。butitrequiresthemostsolidandsubstantialtomakeusenterintothatoftheunsocialandmalevolent。
　　Butthoughingeneralweareaversetoenterintotheunsocialandmalevolentaffections，thoughwelayitdownforarulethatweoughtnevertoapproveoftheirgratification，unlesssofarasthemaliciousandunjustintentionoftheperson，againstwhomtheyaredirected，rendershimtheirproperobject；yet，uponsomeoccasions，werelaxofthisseverity。Whenthenegligenceofonemanhasoccasionedsomeunintendeddamagetoanother，wegenerallyentersofarintotheresentmentofthesufferer，astoapproveofhisinflictingapunishmentupontheoffendermuchbeyondwhattheoffencewouldhaveappearedtodeserve，hadnosuchunluckyconsequencefollowedfromit。
　　Thereisadegreeofnegligence，whichwouldappeartodeservesomechastisementthoughitshouldoccasionnodamagetoanybody。Thus，ifapersonshouldthrowalargestoneoverawallintoapublicstreetwithoutgivingwarningtothosewhomightbepassingby，andwithoutregardingwhereitwaslikelytofall，hewouldundoubtedlydeservesomechastisement。Averyaccuratepolicewouldpunishsoabsurdanaction，eventhoughithaddonenomischief。Thepersonwhohasbeenguiltyofit，showsaninsolentcontemptofthehappinessandsafetyofothers。Thereisrealinjusticeinhisconduct。Hewantonlyexposeshisneighbourtowhatnomaninhissenseswouldchusetoexposehimself，andevidentlywantsthatsenseofwhatisduetohisfellow-creatureswhichisthebasisofjusticeandofsociety。
　　Grossnegligencethereforeis，inthelaw，saidtobealmostequaltomaliciousdesign。q*Whenanyunluckyconsequenceshappenfromsuchcarelessness，thepersonwhohasbeenguiltyofitisoftenpunishedasifhehadreallyintendedthoseconsequences；andhisconduct，whichwasonlythoughtlessandinsolent，andwhatdeservedsomechastisement，isconsideredasatrocious，andasliabletotheseverestpunishment。Thusif，bytheimprudentactionabove-mentioned，heshouldaccidentallykillaman，heis，bythelawsofmanycountries，particularlybytheoldlawofScotland，liabletothelastpunishment。Andthoughthisisnodoubtexcessivelysevere，itisnotaltogetherinconsistentwithournaturalsentiments。Ourjustindignationagainstthefollyandinhumanityofhisconductisexasperatedbyoursympathywiththeunfortunatesufferer。Nothing，however，wouldappearmoreshockingtoournaturalsenseofequity，thantobringamantothescaffoldmerelyforhavingthrownastonecarelesslyintothestreetwithouthurtinganybody。Thefollyandinhumanityofhisconduct，however，wouldinthiscasebethesame；butstilloursentimentswouldbeverydifferent。Theconsiderationofthisdifferencemaysatisfyushowmuchtheindignation，evenofthespectator，isapttobeanimatedbytheactualconsequencesoftheaction。Incasesofthiskindtherewill，ifIamnotmistaken，befoundagreatdegreeofseverityinthelawsofalmostallnations；asIhavealreadyobservedthatinthoseofanoppositekindtherewasaverygeneralrelaxationofdiscipline。