CUSTOMUPONMORALSENTIMENTS。
IntheestimationofDugaldStewart，themostvaluablecontributionof\'AdamSmithtotheimprovementofmoralscienceishisattempttoaccountfortheirregularityofourmoralsentiments，andfortheirliabilitytobemodifiedbyotherconsiderations，verydifferentfromtheproprietyorimproprietyoftheaffectionsoftheagent，orfromtheirbeneficialorhurtfultendency。AdamSmithwas，hethinks，thefirstphilosophertoappreciatethoroughlytheimportanceofthedifficulty，whichisequallygreatineverytheoryoftheoriginofourmoralsentiments；namely，thatouractualmoralsentimentsofapprobation，orthecontrary，aregreatlymodifiedbymattersextraneoustotheintentionoftheagent；as，forexample，bytheinfluenceontheactitselfofquitefortuitousoraccidentalcircumstances。
Thereare，firstofall，theeffectsofprosperityandadversityonthemoraljudgmentsofmenwithregardtotheproprietyofaction，wherebyitiseasiertoobtainapprobationintheoneconditionthanitisintheother。
Inequaldegreesofmeritthereisscarcelyanyonewhodoesnotmorerespecttherichandgreatthanthepoorandhumble；and，ontheotherhand，anequalamountofviceandfollyisregardedwithlessaversionandcontemptintheformerthanitisinthelatter。Howisthistobeexplained？andwhatistheoriginofthisperversionofmoralsentiment？
Therealexplanationofitistobesoughtinthefactofoursympatheticemotions，which，astheyentermorevividlyintothejoysthanintothesorrowsofothers，feelmorepleasureintheconditionofthewealthythaninthatofthepoor。Itisagreeabletosympathizewithjoy，andpainfultoenterintogrief；sothat，wherethereisnoenvyinthecase，ourpropensitytosympathizewithjoyismuchstrongerthanourpropensitytosympathizewithsorrow；andourfellow-feelingfortheagreeableemotionapproachesnearertoitsoriginalintensitythanourfellow-feelingforthepainfulemotionofanotherperson。Itisforthisreasonthatwearemoreashamedtoweepthantolaughbeforecompany，thoughwemayoftenhaveasrealoccasiontodotheoneastheother:wealwaysfeelthatthespectatorsaremorelikelytogoalongwithusintheagreeablethaninthepainfulemotion。Henceourdispositiontoadmiretherichandpowerful，andtodespiseorneglectthepoorandlowly，arisesfromourassociationofjoyandpleasurewiththeconditionoftheformer，andofpainanddistresswiththatofthelatter。