按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the sight of those things which constitute wealth； another in meditating the triumphs of Alexander or Caesar； and a third in viewing the galleries of the Louvre。 Not one of these thinks in the outset of appropriating these objects to himself； not one of them begins with aspiring to be the possessor of vast opulence； or emulating the triumphs of Caesar； or obtaining in property the pictures and statues the sight of which affords him so exquisite delight。 Even the admirer of female beauty； does not at first think of converting this attractive object into a mistress； but on the contrary desires； like Pygmalion； that the figure he beholds might become his solace and companion； because he had previously admired it for itself。
Just so the benevolent man is an individual who finds a peculiar delight in contemplating the contentment； the peace and heart's ease of other men； and sympathises in no ordinary degree with their sufferings。 He rejoices in the existence and diffusion of human happiness； though he should not have had the smallest share in giving birth to the thing he loves。 It is because such are his tastes； and what above all things he prefers； that he afterwards becomes distinguished by the benevolence of his conduct。
The reflex act of the mind； which these new philosophers put forward as the solution of all human pursuits； rarely presents itself but to the speculative enquirer in his closet。 The savage never dreams of it。 The active man； engaged in the busy scenes of life； thinks little； and on rare occasions of himself； but much； and in a manner for ever； of the objects of his pursuit。
Some men are uniform in their character； and from the cradle to the grave prefer the same objects that first awakened their partialities。 Other men are inconsistent and given to change； are 〃every thing by starts； and nothing long。〃 Still it is probable that； in most cases； he who performs an act of benevolence； feels for the time that he has a peculiar delight in contemplating the good of his fellow…man。
The doctrine of the modern philosophers on this point； is in many ways imbecil and unsound。 It is inauspicious to their creed； that the reflex act of the mind is purely the affair of experience。 Why did the liberal…minded man perform his first act of benevolence？ The answer of these persons ought to be； because the recollection of a generous deed is a source of the truest delight。 But there is an absurdity on the face of this solution。
We do not experimentally know the delight which attends the recollection of a generous deed； till a generous deed has been performed by us。 We do not learn these things from books。 And least of all is this solution to the purpose； when the business is to find a solution that suits the human mind universally； the unlearned as well as the learned； the savage as well as the sage。
And surely it is inconsistent with all sound reasoning； to represent that as the sole spring of our benevolent actions； which by the very terms will not fit the first benevolent act in which any man engaged。
The advocates of the doctrine of 〃self…love the source of all our actions；〃 are still more puzzled； when the case set before them is that of the man； who flies； at an instant's warning； to save the life of the child who has fallen into the river； or the unfortunate whom he beholds in the upper story of a house in flames。 This man； as might be illustrated in a thousand instances； treats his own existence as unworthy of notice； and exposes it to multiplied risks to effect the object to which he devotes himself。
They are obliged to say； that this man anticipates the joy he will feel in the recollection of a noble act； and the cutting and intolerable pain he will experience in the consciousness that a human being has perished； whom it was in his power to save。 It is in vain that we tell them that； without a moment's consideration； he tore off his clothes； or plunged into the stream with his clothes on； or rushed up a flaming stair…case。 Still they tell us； that he recollected what compunctious visitings would be his lot if he remained supinehe felt the sharpest uneasiness at sight of the accident before him； and it was to get rid of that uneasiness； and not for the smallest regard to the unhappy being he has been the means to save； that he entered on the hazardous undertaking。
Uneasiness； the knowledge of what inwardly passes in the mind； is a thing not in the slightest degree adverted to but in an interval of leisure。 No； the man here spoken of thinks of nothing but the object immediately before his eyes； he adverts not at all to himself； he acts only with an undeveloped； confused and hurried consciousness that he may be of some use； and may avert the instantly impending calamity。 He has scarcely even so much reflection as amounts to this。
The history of man； whether national or individual； and consequently the acts of human creatures which it describes； are cast in another mould than that which the philosophy of self…love sets before us。 A topic that from the earliest accounts perpetually presents itself in the records of mankind； is self…sacrifice； parents sacrificing themselves for their children； and children for their parents。 Cimon； the Athenian； yet in the flower of his youth； voluntarily became the inmate of a prison； that the body of his father might receive the honours of sepulture。 Various and unquestionable are the examples of persons who have exposed themselves to destruction； and even petitioned to die； that so they might save the lives of those； whose lives they held dearer than their own。 Life is indeed a thing； that is notoriously set at nothing by generous souls； who have fervently devoted themselves to an overwhelming purpose。 There have been instances of persons； exposed to all the horrors of famine； where one has determined to perish by that slowest and most humiliating of all the modes of animal destruction； that another； dearer to him than life itself； might； if possible； be preserved。
What is the true explanation of these determinations of the human will？ Is it； that the person； thus consigning himself to death； loved nothing but himself； regarded only the pleasure he might reap； or the uneasiness he was eager to avoid？ Or； is it； that he had arrived at the exalted point of self…oblivion； and that his whole soul was penetrated and ingrossed with the love of those for whom he conceived so exalted a partiality？
This sentiment so truly forms a part of our nature； that a multitude of absurd practices； and a multitude of heart…rending fables； have been founded upon the consciousness of man in different ages and nations； that these modes of thinking form a constituent part of our common existence。 In India there was found a woman； whose love to the deceased partner of her soul was so overwhelming； that she resolved voluntarily to perish on his funeral pile。 And this example became so fascinating and admirable； that； by insensible degrees； it grew into a national custom with the Hindoos； that； by a sort of voluntary constraint； the widows of all men of a certain caste； should consign themselves to the flames with the dead bodies of their husbands。 The story of Zopyrus cutting off his nose and ears； and of Curtius leaping into the gulph； may be fictitious： but it was the consciousness of those by whom these narratives were written that they drew their materials from the mighty store…house of the heart of man； that prompted them to record them。 The institutions of clientship and clans； so extensively diffused in different ages of the world； rests upon this characteristic of our nature； that multitudes of men may be trained and educated so； as to hold their existence at no price； when the life of the individual they were taught unlimitedly to reverence might be preserved； or might be defended at the risk of their destruction。
The principal circumstance that divides our feelings for others from our feelings for ourselves； and that gives； to satirical observers； and superficial thinkers； an air of exclusive selfishness to the human mind； lies in this； that we can fly from others； but cannot fly from ourselves。 While I am sitting by the bed…side of the sufferer； while I am listening to the tale of his woes； there is comparatively but a slight line of demarcation； whether they are his sorrows or my own。 My sympathy is vehemently excited towards him； and I feel his twinges and anguish in a most painful degree。 But I can quit his apartment and the house in which he dwells； can go out in the fields； and feel the fresh air of heaven fanning my hair； and playing upon my cheeks。 This is at first but a very imperfect relief。 His image follows me； I cannot forget what I have heard and seen； I even reproach myself for the mitigation I involuntarily experience。 But man is the creature of his senses。 I am every moment further removed； both in time and place； from the object that distressed me。 There he still lies upon the bed of agony： but the sound of his complaint； and the sight of all that expresses his suffering； are no longer before me。 A short experience of human life convinces us that we have this remedy always at hand ＇〃I am unhappy； only while I please〃＇24＇； a