Neitherisitonlyovertheproductionsofthearts，thatcustomandfashionexerttheirdominion。Theyinfluenceourjudgments，inthesamemanner，withregardtothebeautyofnaturalobjects。Whatvariousandoppositeformsaredeemedbeautifulindifferentspeciesofthings？Theproportionswhichareadmiredinoneanimal，arealtogetherdifferentfromthosewhichareesteemedinanother。Everyclassofthingshasitsownpeculiarconformation，whichisapprovedof，andhasabeautyofitsown，distinctfromthatofeveryotherspecies。ItisuponthisaccountthatalearnedJesuit，fatherBuffier，hasdeterminedthatthebeautyofeveryobjectconsistsinthatformandcolour，whichismostusualamongthingsofthatparticularsorttowhichitbelongs。Thus，inthehumanform，thebeautyofeachfeatureliesinacertainmiddle，equallyremovedfromavarietyofotherformsthatareugly。Abeautifulnose，forexample，isonethatisneitherverylong，norveryshort，neitherverystraight，norverycrooked，butasortofmiddleamongalltheseextremes，andlessdifferentfromanyoneofthem，thanallofthemarefromoneanother。ItistheformwhichNatureseemstohaveaimedatinthemall，which，however，shedeviatesfrominagreatvarietyofways，andveryseldomhitsexactly；buttowhichallthosedeviationsstillbearaverystrongresemblance。Whenanumberofdrawingsaremadeafteronepattern，thoughtheymayallmissitinsomerespects，yettheywillallresembleitmorethantheyresembleoneanother；thegeneralcharacterofthepatternwillrunthroughthemall；themostsingularandoddwillbethosewhicharemostwideofit；
　　andthoughveryfewwillcopyitexactly，yetthemostaccuratedelineationswillbearagreaterresemblancetothemostcareless，thanthecarelessoneswillbeartooneanother。Inthesamemanner，ineachspeciesofcreatures，whatismostbeautifulbearsthestrongestcharactersofthegeneralfabricofthespecies，andhasthestrongestresemblancetothegreaterpartoftheindividualswithwhichitisclassed。Monsters，onthecontrary，orwhatisperfectlydeformed，arealwaysmostsingularandodd，andhavetheleastresemblancetothegeneralityofthatspeciestowhichtheybelong。Andthusthebeautyofeachspecies，thoughinonesensetherarestofallthings，becausefewindividualshitthismiddleformexactly，yetinanother，isthemostcommon，becauseallthedeviationsfromitresembleitmorethantheyresembleoneanother。Themostcustomaryform，therefore，isineachspeciesofthings，accordingtohim，themostbeautiful。Andhenceitisthatacertainpracticeandexperienceincontemplatingeachspeciesofobjectsisrequisite，beforewecanjudgeofitsbeauty，orknowwhereinthemiddleandmostusualformconsists。Thenicestjudgmentconcerningthebeautyofthehumanspecies，willnothelpustojudgeofthatofflowers，orhorses，oranyotherspeciesofthings。Itisforthesamereasonthatindifferentclimates，andwheredifferentcustomsandwaysoflivingtakeplace，asthegeneralityofanyspeciesreceivesadifferentconformationfromthosecircumstances，sodifferentideasofitsbeautyprevail。ThebeautyofaMoorishisnotexactlythesamewiththatofanEnglishhorse。Whatdifferentideasareformedindifferentnationsconcerningthebeautyofthehumanshapeandcountenance？AfaircomplexionisashockingdeformityuponthecoastofGuinea。Thicklipsandaflatnoseareabeauty。Insomenationslongearsthathangdownupontheshouldersaretheobjectsofuniversaladmiration。InChinaifalady’sfootissolargeastobefittowalkupon，sheisregardedasamonsterofugliness。
　　SomeofthesavagenationsinNorth-Americatiefourboardsroundtheheadsoftheirchildren，andthussqueezethem，whilethebonesaretenderandgristly，intoaformthatisalmostperfectlysquare。Europeansareastonishedattheabsurdbarbarityofthispractice，towhichsomemissionarieshaveimputedthesingularstupidityofthosenationsamongwhomitprevails。Butwhentheycondemnthosesavages，theydonotreflectthattheladiesinEuropehad，tillwithintheseveryfewyears，beenendeavouring，fornearacenturypast，tosqueezethebeautifulroundnessoftheirnaturalshapeintoasquareformofthesamekind。Andthat，notwithstandingthemanydistortionsanddiseaseswhichthispracticewasknowntooccasion，customhadrendereditagreeableamongsomeofthemostcivilizednationswhich，perhaps，theworldeverbeheld。
　　SuchisthesystemofthislearnedandingeniousFather，concerningthenatureofbeauty；ofwhichthewholecharm，accordingtohim，wouldthusseemtoarisefromitsfallinginwiththehabitswhichcustomhadimpressedupontheimagination，withregardtothingsofeachparticularkind。Icannot，however，beinducedtobelievethatoursenseevenofexternalbeautyisfoundedaltogetheroncustom。Theutilityofanyform，itsfitnessfortheusefulpurposesforwhichitwasintended，evidentlyrecommendsit，andrendersitagreeabletous，independentofcustom。Certaincoloursaremoreagreeablethanothers，andgivemoredelighttotheeyethefirsttimeiteverbeholdsthem。Asmoothsurfaceismoreagreeablethanaroughone。Varietyismorepleasingthanatediousundiversifieduniformity。Connectedvariety，inwhicheachnewappearanceseemstobeintroducedbywhatwentbeforeit，andinwhichalltheadjoiningpartsseemtohavesomenaturalrelationtooneanother，ismoreagreeablethanadisjointedanddisorderlyassemblageofunconnectedobjects。ButthoughIcannotadmitthatcustomisthesoleprincipleofbeauty，yetIcansofarallowthetruthofthisingenioussystemastogrant，thatthereisscarceanyoneexternalformsobeautifulastoplease，ifquitecontrarytocustomandunlikewhateverwehavebeenusedtointhatparticularspeciesofthings:orsodeformedasnottobeagreeable，ifcustomuniformlysupportsit，andhabituatesustoseeitineverysingleindividualofthekind。
　　OftheInfluenceofCustomandFashionuponMoralSentimentsSinceoursentimentsconcerningbeautyofeverykind，aresomuchinfluencedbycustomandfashion，itcannotbeexpected，thatthose，concerningthebeautyofconduct，shouldbeentirelyexemptedfromthedominionofthoseprinciples。Theirinfluencehere，however，seemstobemuchlessthanitiseverywhereelse。
　　Thereis，perhaps，noformofexternalobjects，howabsurdandfantasticalsoever，towhichcustomwillnotreconcileus，orwhichfashionwillnotrenderevenagreeable。ButthecharactersandconductofaNero，oraClaudius，arewhatnocustomwilleverreconcileusto，whatnofashionwilleverrenderagreeable；
　　buttheonewillalwaysbetheobjectofdreadandhatred；theotherofscornandderision。Theprinciplesoftheimagination，uponwhichoursenseofbeautydepends，areofaveryniceanddelicatenature，andmayeasilybealteredbyhabitandeducation:butthesentimentsofmoralapprobationanddisapprobation，arefoundedonthestrongestandmostvigorouspassionsofhumannature；andthoughtheymaybesomewhatwarpt，cannotbeentirelyperverted。
　　Butthoughtheinfluenceofcustomandfashionuponmoralsentiments，isnotaltogethersogreat，itishoweverperfectlysimilartowhatitiseverywhereelse。Whencustomandfashioncoincidewiththenaturalprinciplesofrightandwrong，theyheightenthedelicacyofoursentiments，andincreaseourabhorrenceforeverythingwhichapproachestoevil。Thosewhohavebeeneducatedinwhatisreallygoodcompany，notinwhatiscommonlycalledsuch，whohavebeenaccustomedtoseenothinginthepersonswhomtheyesteemedandlivedwith，butjustice，modesty，humanity，andgoodorder。，aremoreshockedwithwhateverseemstobeinconsistentwiththeruleswhichthosevirtuesprescribe。Those，onthecontrary，whohavehadthemisfortunetobebroughtupamidstviolence，licentiousness，falsehood，andinjustice；lose，thoughnotallsenseoftheimproprietyofsuchconduct，yetallsenseofitsdreadfulenormity，orofthevengeanceandpunishmentduetoit。Theyhavebeenfamiliarizedwithitfromtheirinfancy，customhasrenderedithabitualtothem，andtheyareveryapttoregarditas，whatiscalled，thewayoftheworld，somethingwhicheithermay，ormustbepractised，tohinderusfrombeingthedupesofourownintegrity。
　　Fashiontoowillsometimesgivereputationtoacertaindegreeofdisorder，and，onthecontrary，discountenancequalitieswhichdeserveesteem。InthereignofCharlesII。adegreeoflicentiousnesswasdeemedthecharacteristicofaliberaleducation。Itwasconnected，accordingtothenotionsofthosetimes，withgenerosity，sincerity，magnanimity，loyalty，andprovedthatthepersonwhoactedinthismanner，wasagentleman，andnotapuritan。Severityofmanners，andregularityofconduct，ontheotherhand，werealtogetherunfashionable，andwereconnected，intheimaginationofthatage，withcant，cunning，hypocrisy，andlowmanners。Tosuperficialminds，thevicesofthegreatseematalltimesagreeable。Theyconnectthem，notonlywiththesplendouroffortune，butwithmanysuperiorvirtues，whichtheyascribetotheirsuperiors；withthespiritoffreedomandindependency，withfrankness，generosity，humanity，andpoliteness。Thevirtuesoftheinferiorranksofpeople，onthecontrary，theirparsimoniousfrugality，theirpainfulindustry，andrigidadherencetorules，seemtothemmeananddisagreeable。Theyconnectthem，bothwiththemeannessofthestationtowhichthosequalitiescommonlybelong，andwithmanygreatvices，which，theysuppose，usuallyaccompanythem；
　　suchasanabject，cowardly，ill-natured，lying，pilferingdisposition。
　　Theobjectswithwhichmeninthedifferentprofessionsandstatesoflifeareconversant，beingverydifferent，andhabituatingthemtoverydifferentpassions，naturallyforminthemverydifferentcharactersandmanners。Weexpectineachrankandprofession，adegreeofthosemanners，which，experiencehastaughtus，belongtoit。Butasineachspeciesofthings，weareparticularlypleasedwiththemiddleconformation，which，ineverypartandfeature，agreesmostexactlywiththegeneralstandardwhichnatureseemstohaveestablishedforthingsofthatkind；soineachrank，or，ifImaysayso，ineachspeciesofmen，weareparticularlypleased，iftheyhaveneithertoomuch，nortoolittleofthecharacterwhichusuallyaccompaniestheirparticularconditionandsituation。Aman，wesay，shouldlooklikehistradeandprofession；yetthepedantryofeveryprofessionisdisagreeable。Thedifferentperiodsoflifehave，forthesamereason，differentmannersassignedtothem。Weexpectinoldage，thatgravityandsedatenesswhichitsinfirmities，itslongexperience，anditsworn-outsensibilityseemtorenderbothnaturalandrespectable；andwelayouraccounttofindinyouththatsensibility，thatgaietyandsprightlyvivacitywhichexperienceteachesustoexpectfromthelivelyimpressionsthatallinterestingobjectsareapttomakeuponthetenderandunpractisedsensesofthatearlyperiodoflife。Eachofthosetwoages，however，mayeasilyhavetoomuchofthepeculiaritieswhichbelongtoit。Theflirtinglevityofyouth，andtheimmovableinsensibilityofoldage，areequallydisagreeable。Theyoung，accordingtothecommonsaying，aremostagreeablewhenintheirbehaviourthereissomethingofthemannersoftheold，andtheold，whentheyretainsomethingofthegaietyoftheyoung。Eitherofthem，however，mayeasilyhavetoomuchofthemannersoftheother。Theextremecoldness，anddullformality，whicharepardonedinoldage，makeyouthridiculous。Thelevity，thecarelessness，andthevanity，whichareindulgedinyouth，renderoldagecontemptible。
　　Thepeculiarcharacterandmannerswhichweareledbycustomtoappropriatetoeachrankandprofession，havesometimesperhapsaproprietyindependentofcustom；andarewhatweshouldapproveoffortheirownsakes，ifwetookintoconsiderationallthedifferentcircumstanceswhichnaturallyaffectthoseineachdifferentstateoflife。Theproprietyofaperson’sbehaviour，dependsnotuponitssuitablenesstoanyonecircumstanceofhissituation，buttoallthecircumstances，which，whenwebringhiscasehometoourselves，wefeel，shouldnaturallycalluponhisattention。Ifheappearstobesomuchoccupiedbyanyoneofthem，asentirelytoneglecttherest，wedisapproveofhisconduct，assomethingwhichwecannotentirelygoalongwith，becausenotproperlyadjustedtoallthecircumstancesofhissituation:yet，perhaps，theemotionheexpressesfortheobjectwhichprincipallyinterestshim，doesnotexceedwhatweshouldentirelysympathizewith，andapproveof，inonewhoseattentionwasnotrequiredbyanyotherthing。Aparentinprivatelifemight，uponthelossofanonlyson，expresswithoutblameadegreeofgriefandtenderness，whichwouldbeunpardonableinageneralattheheadofanarmy，whenglory，andthepublicsafety，demandedsogreatapartofhisattention。Asdifferentobjectsought，uponcommonoccasions，tooccupytheattentionofmenofdifferentprofessions，sodifferentpassionsoughtnaturallytobecomehabitualtothem；andwhenwebringhometoourselvestheirsituationinthisparticularrespect，wemustbesensible，thateveryoccurrenceshouldnaturallyaffectthemmoreorless，accordingastheemotionwhichitexcites，coincidesordisagreeswiththefixthabitandtemperoftheirminds。Wecannotexpectthesamesensibilitytothegaypleasuresandamusementsoflifeinaclergyman，whichwelayouraccountwithinanofficer。Themanwhosepeculiaroccupationitistokeeptheworldinmindofthatawfulfuturitywhichawaitsthem，whoistoannouncewhatmaybethefatalconsequencesofeverydeviationfromtherulesofduty，andwhoishimselftosettheexampleofthemostexactconformity，seemstobethemessengeroftidings，whichcannot，inpropriety，bedeliveredeitherwithlevityorindifference。Hismindissupposedtobecontinuallyoccupiedwithwhatistoograndandsolemn，toleaveanyroomfortheimpressionsofthosefrivolousobjects，whichfilluptheattentionofthedissipatedandthegay。Wereadilyfeeltherefore，that，independentofcustom，thereisaproprietyinthemannerswhichcustomhasallottedtothisprofession；andthatnothingcanbemoresuitabletothecharacterofaclergymanthanthatgrave，thataustereandabstractedseverity，whichwearehabituatedtoexpectinhisbehaviour。Thesereflectionsaresoveryobvious，thatthereisscarceanymansoinconsiderate，asnot，atsometime，tohavemadethem，andtohaveaccountedtohimselfinthismannerforhisapprobationoftheusualcharacterofthisorder。