The Theory of Moral Sentiments

by Adam Smith

Either of them, however, may easily have too much of the manners of the other.

The extreme coldness, and dull formality,

in ol...

youth ridi...

The levity, the carelessness, and...

in youth, render old age co...

The general security and happiness which prevail in ages of civility and politeness, afford little exercise to the contempt of danger, to patience in enduring labour, hunger, and pain.

Every savage undergoes a sort of Spartan discipline, and by the necessity of his situation is inured to every sort of hardship.

Before we can feel much for others, we must in some measure be at ease ourselves.

And in the same manner the rules of decorum among civilized nations, admit of a more animated behaviour, than is approved of among barbarians.

The prudent man always studies seriously and earnestly to understand whatever he professes to understand, and not merely to persuade other people that he understands it;

he does not always think of cultivating the favour of those little clubs and cabals,

who make it their business to celebrate the talents and virtues of one another, and to decry whatever can come into competition with them.

It is a sedate, but steady and faithful attachment to a few well-tried and well-chosen companions;

The man who lives within his income,

He is enabled gradually to relax, both in the rigour of his parsimony and in the severity of his application;

and does not go in quest of new enterprises and adventures, which might endanger,

If he enters into any new projects or enterprises, they are likely to be well concerted and well prepared.

He confines himself, as much as his duty will permit, to his own affairs,

Prudent content themselves with their own affairs. The wise do not meddle with others.

has no taste for that foolish importance which many people wish to derive from appearing to have some influence in the management

In the bottom of his heart he would prefer the undisturbed enjoyment of secure tranquillity,

The prudent prefer tranquility.

but to the real and solid glory of performing the greatest and most magnanimous actions.

valour,

strong benevolence,

sacred regard to the rules ...

self-co...

Machiavel, not indeed a man of the nicest morality even for his own times,

A parent without parental tenderness, a child devoid of all filial reverence, appear monsters,

not of hatred only,

ho...

The traitor,

he can promote his own little interest by betraying to the public enemy that of his native country.

for either of them to envy the internal happiness and prosperity of the other,

the cultivation of its lands,

advancement of its man...

increase of its c...

the security and number of its ports ...

proficiency in all the liberal arts ...

is surely beneath the dignity of two such...

In such improvements each nation ought, not only to endeavour itself to excel, but from the love of mankind, to promote, instead of obstructing the excellence of its neighbours.

Make the world a better place for mankind. Don't divide it.

The love of our own country

seems not to be

the love of m...

The former sentiment is altogether independen...

new-model the constitution, and to alter, in some of its most essential parts, that system of government

enjoyed, perhaps, peace, security, and even glory, during the course of several centuries together.

The great body of the party are commonly intoxicated with the imaginary beauty of this ideal system,

An imaginary perfect society is the most intoxicating fantasy in politics.

which they have no experience,

represented to them in all the most da...

Those leaders themselves, though they originally may have meant nothing but their own aggrandisement, become many of them in ti...