Asthegreaterandmoreirreparabletheevilthatisdone，theresentmentofthesuffererrunsnaturallythehigher；sodoeslikewisethesympatheticindignationofthespectator，aswellasthesenseofguiltintheagent。Deathisthegreatestevilwhichonemancaninflictuponanother，andexcitesthehighestdegreeofresentmentinthosewhoareimmediatelyconnectedwiththeslain。Murder，therefore，isthemostatrociousofallcrimeswhichaffectindividualsonly，inthesightbothofmankind，andofthepersonwhohascommittedit。Tobedeprivedofthatwhichwearepossessedof，isagreaterevilthantobedisappointedofwhatwehaveonlytheexpectation。Breachofproperty，therefore，theftandrobbery，whichtakefromuswhatwearepossessedof，aregreatercrimesthanbreachofcontract，whichonlydisappointsusofwhatweexpected。Themostsacredlawsofjustice，therefore，thosewhoseviolationseemstocallloudestforvengeanceandpunishment，arethelawswhichguardthelifeandpersonofourneighbour；thenextarethosewhichguardhispropertyandpossessions；andlastofallcomethosewhichguardwhatarecalledhispersonalrights，orwhatisduetohimfromthepromisesofothers。
Theviolatorofthemoresacredlawsofjusticecanneverreflectonthesentimentswhichmankindmustentertainwithregardtohim，withoutfeelingalltheagoniesofshame，andhorror，andconsternation。Whenhispassionisgratified，andhebeginscoollytoreflectonhispastconduct，hecanenterintononeofthemotiveswhichinfluencedit。Theyappearnowasdetestabletohimastheydidalwaystootherpeople。Bysympathizingwiththehatredandabhorrencewhichothermenmustentertainforhim，hebecomesinsomemeasuretheobjectofhisownhatredandabhorrence。Thesituationoftheperson，whosufferedbyhisinjustice，nowcallsuponhispity。Heisgrievedatthethoughtofit；regretstheunhappyeffectsofhisownconduct，andfeelsatthesametimethattheyhaverenderedhimtheproperobjectoftheresentmentandindignationofmankind，andofwhatisthenaturalconsequenceofresentment，vengeanceandpunishment。Thethoughtofthisperpetuallyhauntshim，andfillshimwithterrorandamazement。Hedaresnolongerlooksocietyintheface，butimagineshimselfasitwererejected，andthrownoutfromtheaffectionsofallmankind。Hecannothopefortheconsolationofsympathyinthishisgreatestandmostdreadfuldistress。Theremembranceofhiscrimeshasshutoutallfellow-feelingwithhimfromtheheartsofhisfellow-creatures。
Thesentimentswhichtheyentertainwithregardtohim，aretheverythingwhichheismostafraidof。Everythingseemshostile，andhewouldbegladtoflytosomeinhospitabledesert，wherehemightnevermorebeholdthefaceofahumancreature，norreadinthecountenanceofmankindthecondemnationofhiscrimes。Butsolitudeisstillmoredreadfulthansociety。Hisownthoughtscanpresenthimwithnothingbutwhatisblack，unfortunate，anddisastrous，themelancholyforebodingsofincomprehensiblemiseryandruin。Thehorrorofsolitudedriveshimbackintosociety，andhecomesagainintothepresenceofmankind，astonishedtoappearbeforethem，loadedwithshameanddistractedwithfear，inordertosupplicatesomelittleprotectionfromthecountenanceofthoseveryjudges，whoheknowshavealreadyallunanimouslycondemnedhim。Suchisthenatureofthatsentiment，whichisproperlycalledremorse；ofallthesentimentswhichcanenterthehumanbreastthemostdreadful。Itismadeupofshamefromthesenseoftheimproprietyofpastconduct；ofgrieffortheeffectsofit；ofpityforthosewhosufferbyit；andofthedreadandterrorofpunishmentfromtheconsciousnessofthejustlyprovokedresentmentofallrationalcreatures。
Theoppositebehaviournaturallyinspirestheoppositesentiment。Themanwho，notfromfrivolousfancy，butfrompropermotives，hasperformedagenerousaction，whenhelooksforwardtothosewhomhehasserved，feelshimselftobethenaturalobjectoftheirloveandgratitude，and，bysympathywiththem，oftheesteemandapprobationofallmankind。Andwhenhelooksbackwardtothemotivefromwhichheacted，andsurveysitinthelightinwhichtheindifferentspectatorwillsurveyit，hestillcontinuestoenterintoit，andapplaudshimselfbysympathywiththeapprobationofthissupposedimpartialjudge。Inboththesepointsofviewhisownconductappearstohimeverywayagreeable。Hismind，atthethoughtofit，isfilledwithcheerfulness，serenity，andcomposure。Heisinfriendshipandharmonywithallmankind，andlooksuponhisfellow-creatureswithconfidenceandbenevolentsatisfaction，securethathehasrenderedhimselfworthyoftheirmostfavourableregards。Inthecombinationofallthesesentimentsconsiststheconsciousnessofmerit，orofdeservedreward。
OftheutilityofthisconstitutionofNatureItisthusthatman，whocansubsistonlyinsociety，wasfittedbynaturetothatsituationforwhichhewasmade。Allthemembersofhumansocietystandinneedofeachothersassistance，andarelikewiseexposedtomutualinjuries。Wherethenecessaryassistanceisreciprocallyaffordedfromlove，fromgratitude，fromfriendship，andesteem，thesocietyflourishesandishappy。