Powerandrichesappearthentobe，whattheyare，enormousandoperosemachinescontrivedtoproduceafewtriflingconvenienciestothebody，consistingofspringsthemostniceanddelicate，whichmustbekeptinorderwiththemostanxiousattention，andwhichinspiteofallourcarearereadyeverymomenttoburstintopieces，andtocrushintheirruinstheirunfortunatepossessor。Theyareimmensefabrics，whichitrequiresthelabourofalifetoraise，whichthreateneverymomenttooverwhelmthepersonthatdwellsinthem，andwhichwhiletheystand，thoughtheymaysavehimfromsomesmallerinconveniencies，canprotecthimfromnoneofthesevererinclemenciesoftheseason。Theykeepoffthesummershower，notthewinterstorm，butleavehimalwaysasmuch，andsometimesmoreexposedthanbefore，toanxiety，tofear，andtosorrow；todiseases，todanger，andtodeath。
　　Butthoughthisspleneticphilosophy，whichintimeofsicknessorlowspiritsisfamiliartoeveryman，thusentirelydepreciatesthosegreatobjectsofhumandesire，wheninbetterhealthandinbetterhumour，weneverfailtoregardthemunderamoreagreeableaspect。Ourimagination，whichinpainandsorrowseemstobeconfinedandcoopedupwithinourownpersons，intimesofeaseandprosperityexpandsitselftoeverythingaroundus。Wearethencharmedwiththebeautyofthataccommodationwhichreignsinthepalacesandoeconomyofthegreat；andadmirehoweverythingisadaptedtopromotetheirease，topreventtheirwants，togratifytheirwishes，andtoamuseandentertaintheirmostfrivolousdesires。Ifweconsidertherealsatisfactionwhichallthesethingsarecapableofaffording，byitselfandseparatedfromthebeautyofthatarrangementwhichisfittedtopromoteit，itwillalwaysappearinthehighestdegreecontemptibleandtrifling。Butwerarelyviewitinthisabstractandphilosophicallight。Wenaturallyconfounditinourimaginationwiththeorder，theregularandharmoniousmovementofthesystem，themachineoroeconomybymeansofwhichitisproduced。Thepleasuresofwealthandgreatness，whenconsideredinthiscomplexview，striketheimaginationassomethinggrandandbeautifulandnoble，ofwhichtheattainmentiswellworthallthetoilandanxietywhichwearesoapttobestowuponit。
　　Anditiswellthatnatureimposesuponusinthismanner。Itisthisdeceptionwhichrousesandkeepsincontinualmotiontheindustryofmankind。Itisthiswhichfirstpromptedthemtocultivatetheground，tobuildhouses，tofoundcitiesandcommonwealths，andtoinventandimproveallthesciencesandarts，whichennobleandembellishhumanlife；whichhaveentirelychangedthewholefaceoftheglobe，haveturnedtherudeforestsofnatureintoagreeableandfertileplains，andmadethetracklessandbarrenoceananewfundofsubsistence，andthegreathighroadofcommunicationtothedifferentnationsoftheearth。Theearthbytheselaboursofmankindhasbeenobligedtoredoublehernaturalfertility，andtomaintainagreatermultitudeofinhabitants。Itistonopurpose，thattheproudandunfeelinglandlordviewshisextensivefields，andwithoutathoughtforthewantsofhisbrethren，inimaginationconsumeshimselfthewholeharvestthatgrowsuponthem。Thehomelyandvulgarproverb，thattheeyeislargerthanthebelly，neverwasmorefullyverifiedthanwithregardtohim。Thecapacityofhisstomachbearsnoproportiontotheimmensityofhisdesires，andwillreceivenomorethanthatofthemeanestpeasant。Therestheisobligedtodistributeamongthose，whoprepare，inthenicestmanner，thatlittlewhichhehimselfmakesuseof，amongthosewhofitupthepalaceinwhichthislittleistobeconsumed，amongthosewhoprovideandkeepinorderallthedifferentbaublesandtrinkets，whichareemployedintheoeconomyofgreatness；allofwhomthusderivefromhisluxuryandcaprice，thatshareofthenecessariesoflife，whichtheywouldinvainhaveexpectedfromhishumanityorhisjustice。Theproduceofthesoilmaintainsatalltimesnearlythatnumberofinhabitantswhichitiscapableofmaintaining。Therichonlyselectfromtheheapwhatismostpreciousandagreeable。Theyconsumelittlemorethanthepoor，andinspiteoftheirnaturalselfishnessandrapacity，thoughtheymeanonlytheirownconveniency，thoughthesoleendwhichtheyproposefromthelaboursofallthethousandswhomtheyemploy，bethegratificationoftheirownvainandinsatiabledesires，theydividewiththepoortheproduceofalltheirimprovements。Theyareledbyaninvisiblehandtomakenearlythesamedistributionofthenecessariesoflife，whichwouldhavebeenmade，hadtheearthbeendividedintoequalportionsamongallitsinhabitants，andthuswithoutintendingit，withoutknowingit，advancetheinterestofthesociety，andaffordmeanstothemultiplicationofthespecies。WhenProvidencedividedtheearthamongafewlordlymasters，itneitherforgotnorabandonedthosewhoseemedtohavebeenleftoutinthepartition。Theselasttooenjoytheirshareofallthatitproduces。Inwhatconstitutestherealhappinessofhumanlife，theyareinnorespectinferiortothosewhowouldseemsomuchabovethem。Ineaseofbodyandpeaceofmind，allthedifferentranksoflifearenearlyuponalevel，andthebeggar，whosunshimselfbythesideofthehighway，possessesthatsecuritywhichkingsarefightingfor。
　　Thesameprinciple，thesameloveofsystem，thesameregardtothebeautyoforder，ofartandcontrivance，frequentlyservestorecommendthoseinstitutionswhichtendtopromotethepublicwelfare。Whenapatriotexertshimselffortheimprovementofanypartofthepublicpolice，hisconductdoesnotalwaysarisefrompuresympathywiththehappinessofthosewhoaretoreapthebenefitofit。Itisnotcommonlyfromafellow-feelingwithcarriersandwaggonersthatapublic-spiritedmanencouragesthemendingofhighroads。Whenthelegislatureestablishespremiumsandotherencouragementstoadvancethelinenorwoollenmanufactures，itsconductseldomproceedsfrompuresympathywiththewearerofcheaporfinecloth，andmuchlessfromthatwiththemanufacturerormerchant。Theperfectionofpolice，theextensionoftradeandmanufactures，arenobleandmagnificentobjects。Thecontemplationofthempleasesus，andweareinterestedinwhatevercantendtoadvancethem。Theymakepartofthegreatsystemofgovernment，andthewheelsofthepoliticalmachineseemtomovewithmoreharmonyandeasebymeansofthem。Wetakepleasureinbeholdingtheperfectionofsobeautifulandgrandasystem，andweareuneasytillweremoveanyobstructionthatcanintheleastdisturborencumbertheregularityofitsmotions。Allconstitutionsofgovernment，however，arevaluedonlyinproportionastheytendtopromotethehappinessofthosewholiveunderthem。Thisistheirsoleuseandend。Fromacertainspiritofsystem，however，fromacertainloveofartandcontrivance，wesometimesseemtovaluethemeansmorethantheend，andtobeeagertopromotethehappinessofourfellow-creatures，ratherfromaviewtoperfectandimproveacertainbeautifulandorderlysystem，thanfromanyimmediatesenseorfeelingofwhattheyeithersufferorenjoy。
　　Therehavebeenmenofthegreatestpublicspirit，whohaveshownthemselvesinotherrespectsnotverysensibletothefeelingsofhumanity。Andonthecontrary，therehavebeenmenofthegreatesthumanity，whoseemtohavebeenentirelydevoidofpublicspirit。Everymanmayfindinthecircleofhisacquaintanceinstancesbothoftheonekindandtheother。Whohadeverlesshumanity，ormorepublicspirit，thanthecelebratedlegislatorofMuscovy？Thesocialandwell-naturedJamestheFirstofGreatBritainseems，onthecontrary，tohavehadscarceanypassion，eitherforthegloryortheinterestofhiscountry。Wouldyouawakentheindustryofthemanwhoseemsalmostdeadtoambition，itwilloftenbetonopurposetodescribetohimthehappinessoftherichandthegreat；totellhimthattheyaregenerallyshelteredfromthesunandtherain，thattheyareseldomhungry，thattheyareseldomcold，andthattheyarerarelyexposedtoweariness，ortowantofanykind。Themosteloquentexhortationofthiskindwillhavelittleeffectuponhim。Ifyouwouldhopetosucceed，youmustdescribetohimtheconveniencyandarrangementofthedifferentapartmentsintheirpalaces；youmustexplaintohimtheproprietyoftheirequipages，andpointouttohimthenumber，theorder，andthedifferentofficesofalltheirattendants。Ifanythingiscapableofmakingimpressionuponhim，thiswill。Yetallthesethingstendonlytokeepoffthesunandtherain，tosavethemfromhungerandcold，fromwantandweariness。Inthesamemanner，ifyouwouldimplantpublicvirtueinthebreastofhimwhoseemsheedlessoftheinterestofhiscountry，itwilloftenbetonopurposetotellhim，whatsuperioradvantagesthesubjectsofawell-governedstateenjoy；thattheyarebetterlodged，thattheyarebetterclothed，thattheyarebetterfed。
　　Theseconsiderationswillcommonlymakenogreatimpression。Youwillbemorelikelytopersuade，ifyoudescribethegreatsystemofpublicpolicewhichprocurestheseadvantages，ifyouexplaintheconnexionsanddependenciesofitsseveralparts，theirmutualsubordinationtooneanother，andtheirgeneralsubserviencytothehappinessofthesociety；ifyoushowhowthissystemmightbeintroducedintohisowncountry，whatitisthathindersitfromtakingplacethereatpresent，howthoseobstructionsmightberemoved，andalltheseveralwheelsofthemachineofgovernmentbemadetomovewithmoreharmonyandsmoothness，withoutgratingupononeanother，ormutuallyretardingoneanother’smotions。Itisscarcepossiblethatamanshouldlistentoadiscourseofthiskind，andnotfeelhimselfanimatedtosomedegreeofpublicspirit。Hewill，atleastforthemoment，feelsomedesiretoremovethoseobstructions，andtoputintomotionsobeautifulandsoorderlyamachine。Nothingtendssomuchtopromotepublicspiritasthestudyofpolitics，oftheseveralsystemsofcivilgovernment，theiradvantagesanddisadvantages，oftheconstitutionofourowncountry，itssituation，andinterestwithregardtoforeignnations，itscommerce，itsdefence，thedisadvantagesitlaboursunder，thedangerstowhichitmaybeexposed，howtoremovetheone，andhowtoguardagainsttheother。Uponthisaccountpoliticaldisquisitions，ifjust，andreasonable，andpracticable，areofalltheworksofspeculationthemostuseful。Eventheweakestandtheworstofthemarenotaltogetherwithouttheirutility。
　　Theyserveatleasttoanimatethepublicpassionsofmen，androusethemtoseekoutthemeansofpromotingthehappinessofthesociety。
　　OfthebeautywhichtheappearanceofUtilitybestowsuponthecharactersandactionsofmen；andhowfartheperceptionofthisbeautymayberegardedasoneoftheoriginalprinciplesofapprobationThecharactersofmen，aswellasthecontrivancesofart，ortheinstitutionsofcivilgovernment，maybefittedeithertopromoteortodisturbthehappinessbothoftheindividualandofthesociety。Theprudent，theequitable，theactive，resolute，andsobercharacterpromisesprosperityandsatisfaction，bothtothepersonhimselfandtoeveryoneconnectedwithhim。Therash，theinsolent，theslothful，effeminate，andvoluptuous，onthecontrary，forebodesruintotheindividual，andmisfortunetoallwhohaveanythingtodowithhim。Thefirstturnofmindhasatleastallthebeautywhichcanbelongtothemostperfectmachinethatwaseverinventedforpromotingthemostagreeablepurpose:
　　andthesecond，allthedeformityofthemostawkwardandclumsycontrivance。Whatinstitutionofgovernmentcouldtendsomuchtopromotethehappinessofmankindasthegeneralprevalenceofwisdomandvirtue？Allgovernmentisbutanimperfectremedyforthedeficiencyofthese。Whateverbeauty，therefore，canbelongtocivilgovernmentuponaccountofitsutility，mustinafarsuperiordegreebelongtothese。Onthecontrary，whatcivilpolicycanbesoruinousanddestructiveasthevicesofmen？Thefataleffectsofbadgovernmentarisefromnothing，butthatitdoesnotsufficientlyguardagainstthemischiefswhichhumanwickednessgivesoccasionto。
　　Thisbeautyanddeformitywhichcharactersappeartoderivefromtheirusefulnessorinconveniency，areapttostrike，inapeculiarmanner，thosewhoconsider，inanabstractandphilosophicallight，theactionsandconductofmankind。Whenaphilosophergoestoexaminewhyhumanityisapprovedof，orcrueltycondemned，hedoesnotalwaysformtohimself，inaveryclearanddistinctmanner，theconceptionofanyoneparticularactioneitherofcrueltyorofhumanity，butiscommonlycontentedwiththevagueandindeterminateideawhichthegeneralnamesofthosequalitiessuggesttohim。Butitisinparticularinstancesonlythattheproprietyorimpropriety，themeritordemeritofactionsisveryobviousanddiscernible。Itisonlywhenparticularexamplesaregiventhatweperceivedistinctlyeithertheconcordordisagreementbetweenourownaffectionsandthoseoftheagent，orfeelasocialgratitudearisetowardshimintheonecase，orasympatheticresentmentintheother。Whenweconsidervirtueandviceinanabstractandgeneralmanner，thequalitiesbywhichtheyexcitetheseseveralsentimentsseeminagreatmeasuretodisappear，andthesentimentsthemselvesbecomelessobviousanddiscernible。Onthecontrary，thehappyeffectsoftheoneandthefatalconsequencesoftheotherseemthentoriseuptotheview，andasitweretostandoutanddistinguishthemselvesfromalltheotherqualitiesofeither。