SectionVI
OfMoralSentimentUponaslightobservationofwhatpassesinhumanlife，weshouldbeapttoconclude，thatthecareofsubsistenceistheprincipalspringofhumanactions。Thisconsiderationleadstotheinventionandpracticeofmechanicalarts；itservestodistinguishamusementfrombusiness；and，withmany，scarcelyadmitsintocompetitionanyothersubjectofpursuitorattention。Themightyadvantagesofpropertyandfortune，whenstriptoftherecommendationstheyderivefromvanity，orthemoreseriousregardstoindependenceandpower，onlymeanaprovisionthatismadeforanimalenjoyment；andifoursolicitudeonthissubjectwereremoved，notonlythetoilsofthemechanic，butthestudiesofthelearned，wouldcease；everydepartmentofpublicbusinesswouldbecomeunnecessary；everysenate-housewouldbeshutup，andeverypalacedeserted。
Ismantherefore，inrespecttohisobject，tobeclassedwiththemerebrutes，andonlytobedistinguishedbyfacultiesthatqualifyhimtomultiplycontrivancesforthesupportandconvenienceofanimallife，andbytheextentofafancythatrendersthecareofanimalpreservationtohimmoreburdensomethanitistotheherdwithwhichhesharesinthebountyofnature？Ifthiswerehiscase，thejoywhichattendsonsuccess，orthegriefswhicharisefromdisappointment，wouldmakethesumofhispassions。Thetorrentthatwasted，ortheinundationthatenrichedhispossessions，wouldgivehimalltheemotionwithwhichheisseized，ontheoccasionofawrongbywhichhisfortunesareimpaired，orofabenefitbywhichtheyarepreservedandenlarged。Hisfellow-creatureswouldbeconsideredmerelyastheyaffectedhisinterest。Profitorlosswouldservetomarktheeventofeverytransaction；andtheepithetsusefulordetrimentalwouldservetodistinguishhismatesinsociety，astheydothetreewhichbearsplentyoffruit，fromthatwhichservesonlytocumbertheground，orintercepthisview。
This，however，isnotthehistoryofourspecies。Whatcomesfromafellow-creatureisreceivedwithpeculiarattention；andeverylanguageaboundswithtermsthatexpresssomewhatinthetransactionsofmen，differentfromsuccessanddisappointment。
Thebosomkindlesincompany，whilethepointofinterestinviewhasnothingtoinflame；andamatterfrivolousinitself，becomesimportant，whenitservestobringtolighttheintentionsandcharactersofmen。Theforeigner，whobelievedthatOthello，onthestage，wasenragedforthelossofhishandkerchief，wasnotmoremistaken，thanthereasonerwhoimputesanyofthemorevehementpassionsofmentotheimpressionsofmereprofitorloss。