Thereisanotherdegreeofnegligencewhichdoesnotinvolveinitanysortofinjustice。Thepersonwhoisguiltyofittreatshisneighboursashetreatshimself，meansnoharmtoanybody，andisfarfromentertaininganyinsolentcontemptforthesafetyandhappinessofothers。Heisnot，however，socarefulandcircumspectinhisconductasheoughttobe，anddeservesuponthisaccountsomedegreeofblameandcensure，butnosortofpunishment。Yetifbyanegligence3*ofthiskindheshouldoccasionsomedamagetoanotherperson，heisbythelawsof，I
　　believe，allcountries，obligedtocompensateit。Andthoughthisisnodoubtarealpunishment，andwhatnomortalwouldhavethoughtofinflictinguponhim，haditnotbeenfortheunluckyaccidentwhichhisconductgaveoccasionto；yetthisdecisionofthelawisapprovedofbythenaturalsentimentsofallmankind。
　　Nothing，wethink，canbemorejustthanthatonemanshouldnotsufferbythecarelessnessofanother；andthatthedamageoccasionedbyblamablenegligence，shouldbemadeupbythepersonwhowasguiltyofit。
　　Thereisanotherspeciesofnegligence，4*whichconsistsmerelyinawantofthemostanxioustimidityandcircumspection，withregardtoallthepossibleconsequencesofouractions。Thewantofthispainfulattention，whennobadconsequencesfollowfromit，issofarfrombeingregardedasblamable，thatthecontraryqualityisratherconsideredassuch。Thattimidcircumspectionwhichisafraidofeverything，isneverregardedasavirtue，butasaqualitywhichmorethananyotherincapacitatesforactionandbusiness。Yetwhen，fromawantofthisexcessivecare，apersonhappenstooccasionsomedamagetoanother，heisoftenbythelawobligedtocompensateit。Thus，bytheAquilianlaw，theman，whonotbeingabletomanageahorsethathadaccidentallytakenfright，shouldhappentoridedownhisneighbour’sslave，isobligedtocompensatethedamage。
　　Whenanaccidentofthiskindhappens，weareapttothinkthatheoughtnottohaverodesuchahorse，andtoregardhisattemptingitasanunpardonablelevity；thoughwithoutthisaccidentweshouldnotonlyhavemadenosuchreflection，butshouldhaveregardedhisrefusingitastheeffectoftimidweakness，andofananxietyaboutmerelypossibleevents，whichitistonopurposetobeawareof。Thepersonhimself，whobyanaccidentevenofthiskindhasinvoluntarilyhurtanother，seemstohavesomesenseofhisownilldesert，withregardtohim。Henaturallyrunsuptothesufferertoexpresshisconcernforwhathashappened，andtomakeeveryacknowledgmentinhispower。Ifhehasanysensibility，henecessarilydesirestocompensatethedamage，andtodoeverythinghecantoappeasethatanimalresentment，whichheissensiblewillbeapttoariseinthebreastofthesufferer。Tomakenoapology，tooffernoatonement，isregardedasthehighestbrutality。Yetwhyshouldhemakeanapologymorethananyotherperson？Whyshouldhe，sincehewasequallyinnocentwithanyotherbystander，bethussingledoutfromamongallmankind，tomakeupforthebadfortuneofanother？Thistaskwouldsurelyneverbeimposeduponhim，didnoteventheimpartialspectatorfeelsomeindulgenceforwhatmayberegardedastheunjustresentmentofthatother。
　　OfthefinalcauseofthisIrregularityofSentimentsSuchistheeffectofthegoodorbadconsequencesofactionsuponthesentimentsbothofthepersonwhoperformsthem，andofothers；andthus，Fortune，whichgovernstheworld，hassomeinfluencewhereweshouldbeleastwillingtoallowherany，anddirectsinsomemeasurethesentimentsofmankind，withregardtothecharacterandconductbothofthemselvesandothers。Thattheworldjudgesbytheevent，andnotbythedesign，hasbeeninallagesthecomplaint，andisthegreatdiscouragementofvirtue。
　　Everybodyagreestothegeneralmaxim，thatastheeventdoesnotdependontheagent，itoughttohavenoinfluenceuponoursentiments，withregardtothemeritorproprietyofhisconduct。
　　Butwhenwecometoparticulars，wefindthatoursentimentsarescarceinanyoneinstanceexactlyconformabletowhatthisequitablemaximwoulddirect。Thehappyorunprosperouseventofanyaction，isnotonlyapttogiveusagoodorbadopinionoftheprudencewithwhichitwasconducted，butalmostalwaystooanimatesourgratitudeorresentment，oursenseofthemeritordemeritofthedesign。
　　Nature，however，whensheimplantedtheseedsofthisirregularityinthehumanbreast，seems，asuponallotheroccasions，tohaveintendedthehappinessandperfectionofthespecies。Ifthehurtfulnessofthedesign，ifthemalevolenceoftheaffection，werealonethecauseswhichexcitedourresentment，weshouldfeelallthefuriesofthatpassionagainstanypersoninwhosebreastwesuspectedorbelievedsuchdesignsoraffectionswereharboured，thoughtheyhadneverbrokeoutintoanyaction。Sentiments，thoughts，intentions，wouldbecometheobjectsofpunishment；andiftheindignationofmankindrunashighagainstthemasagainstactions；ifthebasenessofthethoughtwhichhadgivenbirthtonoaction，seemedintheeyesoftheworldasmuchtocallaloudforvengeanceasthebasenessoftheaction，everycourtofjudicaturewouldbecomearealinquisition。Therewouldbenosafetyforthemostinnocentandcircumspectconduct。Badwishes，badviews，baddesigns，mightstillbesuspected；andwhiletheseexcitedthesameindignationwithbadconduct，whilebadintentionswereasmuchresentedasbadactions，theywouldequallyexposethepersontopunishmentandresentment。Actions，therefore，whicheitherproduceactualevil，orattempttoproduceit，andtherebyputusintheimmediatefearofit，arebytheAuthorofnaturerenderedtheonlyproperandapprovedobjectsofhumanpunishmentandresentment。Sentiments，designs，affections，thoughitisfromthesethataccordingtocoolreasonhumanactionsderivetheirwholemeritordemerit，areplacedbythegreatJudgeofheartsbeyondthelimitsofeveryhumanjurisdiction，andarereservedforthecognizanceofhisownunerringtribunal。Thatnecessaryruleofjustice，therefore，thatmeninthislifeareliabletopunishmentfortheiractionsonly，notfortheirdesignsandintentions，isfoundeduponthissalutaryandusefulirregularityinhumansentimentsconcerningmeritordemerit，whichatfirstsightappearssoabsurdandunaccountable。Buteverypartofnature，whenattentivelysurveyed，equallydemonstratestheprovidentialcareofitsAuthor，andwemayadmirethewisdomandgoodnessofGodevenintheweaknessandfollyofman。
　　Noristhatirregularityofsentimentsaltogetherwithoutitsutility，bywhichthemeritofanunsuccessfulattempttoserve，andmuchmorethatofmeregoodinclinationsandkindwishes，appearstobeimperfect。Manwasmadeforaction，andtopromotebytheexertionofhisfacultiessuchchangesintheexternalcircumstancesbothofhimselfandothers，asmayseemmostfavourabletothehappinessofall。Hemustnotbesatisfiedwithindolentbenevolence，norfancyhimselfthefriendofmankind，becauseinhishearthewisheswelltotheprosperityoftheworld。Thathemaycallforththewholevigourofhissoul，andstraineverynerve，inordertoproducethoseendswhichitisthepurposeofhisbeingtoadvance，Naturehastaughthim，thatneitherhimselfnormankindcanbefullysatisfiedwithhisconduct，norbestowuponitthefullmeasureofapplause，unlesshehasactuallyproducedthem。Heismadetoknow，thatthepraiseofgoodintentions，withoutthemeritofgoodoffices，willbebutoflittleavailtoexciteeithertheloudestacclamationsoftheworld，oreventhehighestdegreeofself-applause。Themanwhohasperformednosingleactionofimportance，butwhosewholeconversationanddeportmentexpressthejustest，thenoblest，andmostgeneroussentiments，canbeentitledtodemandnoveryhighreward，eventhoughhisinutilityshouldbeowingtonothingbutthewantofanopportunitytoserve。Wecanstillrefuseithimwithoutblame。Wecanstillaskhim，Whathaveyoudone？Whatactualservicecanyouproduce，toentitleyoutosogreatarecompense？Weesteemyou，andloveyou；butweoweyounothing。Torewardindeedthatlatentvirtuewhichhasbeenuselessonlyforwantofanopportunitytoserve，tobestowuponitthosehonoursandpreferments，which，thoughinsomemeasureitmaybesaidtodeservethem，itcouldnotwithproprietyhaveinsistedupon，istheeffectofthemostdivinebenevolence。Topunish，onthecontrary，fortheaffectionsoftheheartonly，wherenocrimehasbeencommitted，isthemostinsolentandbarbaroustyranny。Thebenevolentaffectionsseemtodeservemostpraise，whentheydonotwaittillitbecomesalmostacrimeforthemnottoexertthemselves。Themalevolent，onthecontrary，canscarcebetootardy，tooslow，ordeliberate。
　　Itisevenofconsiderableimportance，thattheevilwhichisdonewithoutdesignshouldberegardedasamisfortunetothedoeraswellastothesufferer。Manistherebytaughttoreverencethehappinessofhisbrethren，totremblelestheshould，evenunknowingly，doanythingthatcanhurtthem，andtodreadthatanimalresentmentwhich，hefeels，isreadytoburstoutagainsthim，ifheshould，withoutdesign，betheunhappyinstrumentoftheircalamity。As，intheancientheathenreligion，thatholygroundwhichhadbeenconsecratedtosomegod，wasnottobetroduponbutuponsolemnandnecessaryoccasions，andthemanwhohadevenignorantlyviolatedit，becamepiacularfromthatmoment，and，untilproperatonementshouldbemade，incurredthevengeanceofthatpowerfulandinvisiblebeingtowhomithadbeensetapart；so，bythewisdomofNature，thehappinessofeveryinnocentmanis，inthesamemanner，renderedholy，consecrated，andhedgedroundagainsttheapproachofeveryotherman；nottobewantonlytrodupon，noteventobe，inanyrespect，ignorantlyandinvoluntarilyviolated，withoutrequiringsomeexpiation，someatonementinproportiontothegreatnessofsuchundesignedviolation。Amanofhumanity，whoaccidentally，andwithoutthesmallestdegreeofblamablenegligence，hasbeenthecauseofthedeathofanotherman，feelshimselfpiacular，thoughnotguilty。Duringhiswholelifeheconsidersthisaccidentasoneofthegreatestmisfortunesthatcouldhavebefallenhim。Ifthefamilyoftheslainispoor，andhehimselfintolerablecircumstances，heimmediatelytakesthemunderhisprotection，and，withoutanyothermerit，thinksthementitledtoeverydegreeoffavourandkindness。Iftheyareinbettercircumstances，heendeavoursbyeverysubmission，byeveryexpressionofsorrow，byrenderingthemeverygoodofficewhichhecandeviseortheyacceptof，toatoneforwhathashappened，andtopropitiate，asmuchaspossible，their，perhapsnatural，thoughnodoubtmostunjustresentment，forthegreat，thoughinvoluntary，offencewhichhehasgiventhem。
　　Thedistresswhichaninnocentpersonfeels，who，bysomeaccident，hasbeenledtodosomethingwhich，ifithadbeendonewithknowledgeanddesign，wouldhavejustlyexposedhimtothedeepestreproach，hasgivenoccasiontosomeofthefinestandmostinterestingscenesbothoftheancientandofthemoderndrama。Itisthisfallacioussenseofguilt，ifImaycallitso，whichconstitutesthewholedistressofOedipusandJocastaupontheGreek，ofMonimiaandIsabellaupontheEnglish，theatre。
　　Theyarealloftheminthehighestdegreepiacular，thoughnotoneofthemisinthesmallestdegreeguilty。
　　Notwithstanding，however，alltheseseemingirregularitiesofsentiment，ifmanshouldunfortunatelyeithergiveoccasiontothoseevilswhichhedidnotintend，orfailinproducingthatgoodwhichheintended，Naturehasnotlefthisinnocencealtogetherwithoutconsolation，norhisvirtuealtogetherwithoutreward。Hethencallstohisassistancethatjustandequitablemaxim，Thatthoseeventswhichdidnotdependuponourconduct，oughtnottodiminishtheesteemthatisduetous。Hesummonsuphiswholemagnanimityandfirmnessofsoul，andstrivestoregardhimself，notinthelightinwhichheatpresentappears，butinthatinwhichheoughttoappear，inwhichhewouldhaveappearedhadhisgenerousdesignsbeencrownedwithsuccess，andinwhichhewouldstillappear，notwithstandingtheirmiscarriage，ifthesentimentsofmankindwereeitheraltogethercandidandequitable，orevenperfectlyconsistentwiththemselves。Themorecandidandhumanepartofmankindentirelygoalongwiththeeffortwhichhethusmakestosupporthimselfinhisownopinion。
　　Theyexerttheirwholegenerosityandgreatnessofmind，tocorrectinthemselvesthisirregularityofhumannature，andendeavourtoregardhisunfortunatemagnanimityinthesamelightinwhich，haditbeensuccessful，theywould，withoutanysuchgenerousexertion，havenaturallybeendisposedtoconsiderit。
　　1。Toascribeinthismannerournaturalsenseoftheilldesertofhumanactionstoasympathywiththeresentmentofthesufferer，mayseem，tothegreaterpartofpeople，tobeadegradationofthatsentiment。Resentmentiscommonlyregardedassoodiousapassion，thattheywillbeapttothinkitimpossiblethatsolaudableaprinciple，asthesenseoftheilldesertofvice，shouldinanyrespectbefoundeduponit。Theywillbemorewilling，perhaps，toadmitthatoursenseofthemeritofgoodactionsisfoundeduponasympathywiththegratitudeofthepersonswhoreceivethebenefitofthem；becausegratitude，aswellasalltheotherbenevolentpassions，isregardedasanamiableprinciple，whichcantakenothingfromtheworthofwhateverisfoundeduponit。Gratitudeandresentment，however，areineveryrespect，itisevident，counterpartstooneanother；