LUXURYisawordofanuncertainsignification，andmaybetakeninagoodaswellasinabadsense.Ingeneral，itmeansgreatrefinementinthegratificationofthesenses;andanydegreeofitmaybeinnocentorblameable，accordingtotheage，orcountry，orconditionoftheperson.Theboundsbetweenthevirtueandthevicecannotherebeexactlyfixed，morethaninothermoralsubjects.Toimagine，thatthegratifyingofanysense，ortheindulgingofanydelicacyinmeat，drink，orapparel，isofitselfavice，canneverenterintoahead，thatisnotdisorderedbythefrenziesofenthusiasm.Ihave，indeed，heardofamonkabroad，who，becausethewindowsofhiscellopeneduponanobleprospect，madeacovenantwithhiseyesnevertoturnthatway，orreceivesosensualagratification.AndsuchisthecrimeofdrinkingCHAMPAGNEorBURGUNDY，preferablytosmallbeerorporter.Theseindulgencesareonlyvices，whentheyarepursuedattheexpenceofsomevirtue，asliberalityorcharity;inlikemannerastheyarefollies，whenforthemamanruinshisfortune，andreduceshimselftowantandbeggary.Wheretheyentrenchuponnovirtue，butleaveamplesubjectwhencetoprovideforfriends，familyandeveryproperobjectofgenerosityorcompassion，theyareentirelyinnocent，andhaveineveryagebeenacknowledgedsuchbyalmostallmoralists.Tobeentirelyoccupiedwiththeluxuryofthetable，forinstance，withoutanyrelishforthepleasuresofambition，study，orconversation，isamarkofstupidityandisincompatiblewithanyvigouroftemperorgenius.Toconfineone\'sexpenceentirelytosuchagratification，withoutregardtofriendsorfamily，isanindicationofaheartdestituteofhumanityorbenevolence.Butifamanreservetimesufficientforalllaudablepursuits，andmoneysufficientforallgenerouspurposes，heisfreefromeveryshadowofblameorreproach.
Sinceluxurymaybeconsideredeitherasinnocentorblameable，onemaybesurprizedatthosepreposterousopinions，whichhavebeenentertainedconcerningit;whilemenoflibertineprinciplesbestowpraisesevenonviciousluxury，andrepresentitashighlyadvantageoustosociety;andontheotherhand，menofseveremoralsblameeventhemostinnocentluxuryandrepresentitasthesourceofallthecorruptions，disorders，andfactions，incidenttocivilgovernment.Weshallhereendeavourtocorrectboththeseextremes，byproving，first，thattheagesofrefinementareboththehappiestandmostvirtuous;secondly，thatwhereverluxuryceasestobeinnocent，italsoceasestobebeneficial;andwhencarriedadegreetoofar，isaqualitypernicious，thoughperhapsnotthemostpernicious，topoliticalsociety.
Toprovethefirstpoint，weneedbutconsidertheeffectsofrefinementbothonprivateandonpubliclife.Humanhappiness，accordingtothemostreceivednotions，seemstoconsistinthreeingredients;action，pleasure，andindolence：Andthoughtheseingredientsoughttobemixedindifferentproportions，accordingtotheparticulardispositionoftheperson;yetnooneingredientcanbeentirelywanting，withoutdestroying，insomemeasure，therelishofthewholecomposition.Indolenceorrepose，indeed，seemsnotofitselftocontributemuchtoourenjoyment;but，likesleep，isrequisiteasanindulgencetotheweaknessofhumannature，whichcannotsupportanuninterruptedcourseofbusinessorpleasure.Thatquickmarchofthespirits，whichtakesamanfromhimself，andchieflygivessatisfaction，doesintheendexhaustthemind，andrequiressomeintervalsofrepose，which，thoughagreeableforamoment，yet，ifprolonged，begetalanguorandlethargy，thatdestroysallenjoyment.
Education，custom，andexample，haveamightyinfluenceinturningthemindtoanyofthesepursuits;anditmustbeowned，that，wheretheypromotearelishforactionandpleasure，theyaresofarfavourabletohumanhappiness.Intimeswhenindustryandtheartsflourish，menarekeptinperpetualoccupation，andenjoy，astheirreward，theoccupationitself，aswellasthosepleasureswhicharethefruitoftheirlabour.Themindacquiresnewvigour;enlargesitspowersandfaculties;andbyanassiduityinhonestindustry，bothsatisfiesitsnaturalappetites，andpreventsthegrowthofunnaturalones，whichcommonlyspringup，whennourishedbyeaseandidleness.Banishthoseartsfromsociety，youdeprivemenbothofactionandofpleasure;andleavingnothingbutindolenceintheirplace，youevendestroytherelishofindolence，whichneverisagreeable，butwhenitsucceedstolabour，andrecruitsthespirits，exhaustedbytoomuchapplicationandfatigue.
Anotheradvantageofindustryandofrefinementsinthemechanicalarts，is，thattheycommonlyproducesomerefinementsintheliberal;norcanonebecarriedtoperfection，withoutbeingaccompanied，insomedegree，withtheother.Thesameage，whichproducesgreatphilosophersandpoliticians，renownedgeneralsandpoets，usuallyaboundswithskilfulweavers，andship—carpenters.Wecannotreasonablyexpect，thatapieceofwoollenclothwillbewroughttoperfectioninanation，whichisignorantofastronomy，orwhereethicsareneglected.Thespiritoftheageaffectsallthearts;andthemindsofmen，beingoncerousedfromtheirlethargy，andputintoafermentation，turnthemselvesonallsides，andcarryimprovementsintoeveryartandscience.Profoundignoranceistotallybanished，andmenenjoytheprivilegeofrationalcreatures，tothinkaswellastoact，tocultivatethepleasuresofthemindaswellasthoseofthebody.
Themoretheserefinedartsadvance，themoresociablemenbecome：norisitpossible，that，whenenrichedwithscience，andpossessedofafundofconversation，theyshouldbecontentedtoremaininsolitude，orlivewiththeirfellow—citizensinthatdistantmanner，whichispeculiartoignorantandbarbarousnations.Theyflockintocities;lovetoreceiveandcommunicateknowledge;toshowtheirwitortheirbreeding;theirtasteinconversationorliving，inclothesorfurniture.Curiosityalluresthewise;vanitythefoolish;andpleasureboth.