Whenwereadinhistoryorromance，theaccountofactionseitherofgenerosityorofbaseness，theadmirationwhichweconceivefortheone，andthecontemptwhichwefeelfortheother，neitherofthemarisefromreflectingthattherearecertaingeneralruleswhichdeclareallactionsoftheonekindadmirable，andallactionsoftheothercontemptible。Thosegeneralrules，onthecontrary，areallformedfromtheexperiencewehavehadoftheeffectswhichactionsofalldifferentkindsnaturallyproduceuponus。
Anamiableaction，arespectableaction，anhorridaction，areallofthemactionswhichnaturallyexciteforthepersonwhoperformsthem，thelove，therespect，orthehorrorofthespectator。Thegeneralruleswhichdeterminewhatactionsare，andwhatarenot，theobjectsofeachofthosesentiments，canbeformednootherwaythanbyobservingwhatactionsactuallyandinfactexcitethem。
Whenthesegeneralrules，indeed，havebeenformed，whentheyareuniversallyacknowledgedandestablished，bytheconcurringsentimentsofmankind，wefrequentlyappealtothemastothestandardsofjudgment，indebatingconcerningthedegreeofpraiseorblamethatisduetocertainactionsofacomplicatedanddubiousnature。Theyareupontheseoccasionscommonlycitedastheultimatefoundationsofwhatisjustandunjustinhumanconduct；andthiscircumstanceseemstohavemisledseveralveryeminentauthors，todrawuptheirsystemsinsuchamanner，asiftheyhadsupposedthattheoriginaljudgmentsofmankindwithregardtorightandwrong，wereformedlikethedecisionsofacourtofjudicatory，byconsideringfirstthegeneralrule，andthen，secondly，whethertheparticularactionunderconsiderationfellproperlywithinitscomprehension。
Thosegeneralrulesofconduct，whentheyhavebeenfixedinourmindbyhabitualreflection，areofgreatuseincorrectingthemisrepresentationsofself-loveconcerningwhatisfitandpropertobedoneinourparticularsituation。Themanoffuriousresentment，ifhewastolistentothedictatesofthatpassion，wouldperhapsregardthedeathofhisenemy，asbutasmallcompensationforthewrong，heimagines，hehasreceived；which，however，maybenomorethanaveryslightprovocation。Buthisobservationsupontheconductofothers，havetaughthimhowhorribleallsuchsanguinaryrevengesappear。Unlesshiseducationhasbeenverysingular，hehaslaiditdowntohimselfasaninviolablerule，toabstainfromthemuponalloccasions。
Thisrulepreservesitsauthoritywithhim，andrendershimincapableofbeingguiltyofsuchaviolence。Yetthefuryofhisowntempermaybesuch，thathadthisbeenthefirsttimeinwhichheconsideredsuchanaction，hewouldundoubtedlyhavedeterminedittobequitejustandproper，andwhateveryimpartialspectatorwouldapproveof。Butthatreverencefortherulewhichpastexperiencehasimpresseduponhim，checkstheimpetuosityofhispassion，andhelpshimtocorrectthetoopartialviewswhichself-lovemightotherwisesuggest，ofwhatwaspropertobedoneinhissituation。Ifheshouldallowhimselftobesofartransportedbypassionastoviolatethisrule，yet，eveninthiscase，hecannotthrowoffaltogethertheaweandrespectwithwhichhehasbeenaccustomedtoregardit。