Yetsurelyifwesawanymanshoutingwithadmirationandapplauseatabarbarousandunmeritedexecution，whichsomeinsolenttyranthadordered，weshouldnotthinkwewereguiltyofanygreatabsurdityindenominatingthisbehaviourviciousandmorallyevilinthehighestdegree，thoughitexpressednothingbutdepravedmoralfaculties，oranabsurdapprobationofthishorridaction，asofwhatwasnoble，magnanimous，andgreat。Ourheart，Iimagine，atthesightofsuchaspectator，wouldforgetforawhileitssympathywiththesufferer，andfeelnothingbuthorroranddetestation，atthethoughtofsoexecrableawretch。
Weshouldabominatehimevenmorethanthetyrantwhomightbegoadedonbythestrongpassionsofjealousy，fear，andresentment，anduponthataccountbemoreexcusable。Butthesentimentsofthespectatorwouldappearaltogetherwithoutcauseormotive，andthereforemostperfectlyandcompletelydetestable。Thereisnoperversionofsentimentoraffectionwhichourheartwouldbemoreaversetoenterinto，orwhichitwouldrejectwithgreaterhatredandindignationthanoneofthiskind；andsofarfromregardingsuchaconstitutionofmindasbeingmerelysomethingstrangeorinconvenient，andnotinanyrespectviciousormorallyevil，weshouldratherconsideritastheverylastandmostdreadfulstageofmoraldepravity。
Correctmoralsentiments，onthecontrary，naturallyappearinsomedegreelaudableandmorallygood。Theman，whosecensureandapplauseareuponalloccasionssuitedwiththegreatestaccuracytothevalueorunworthinessoftheobject，seemstodeserveadegreeevenofmoralapprobation。Weadmirethedelicateprecisionofhismoralsentiments:theyleadourownjudgments，and，uponaccountoftheiruncommonandsurprisingjustness，theyevenexciteourwonderandapplause。Wecannotindeedbealwayssurethattheconductofsuchapersonwouldbeinanyrespectcorrespondenttotheprecisionandaccuracyofhisjudgmentsconcerningtheconductofothers。Virtuerequireshabitandresolutionofmind，aswellasdelicacyofsentiment；andunfortunatelytheformerqualitiesaresometimeswanting，wherethelatterisinthegreatestperfection。Thisdispositionofmind，however，thoughitmaysometimesbeattendedwithimperfections，isincompatiblewithanythingthatisgrosslycriminal，andisthehappiestfoundationuponwhichthesuperstructureofperfectvirtuecanbebuilt。Therearemanymenwhomeanverywell，andseriouslypurposetodowhattheythinktheirduty，whonotwithstandingaredisagreeableonaccountofthecoarsenessoftheirmoralsentiments。
Itmaybesaid，perhaps，thatthoughtheprincipleofapprobationisnotfoundeduponanypowerofperceptionthatisinanyrespectanalogoustotheexternalsenses，itmaystillbefoundeduponapeculiarsentimentwhichanswersthisoneparticularpurposeandnoother。Approbationanddisapprobation，itmaybepretended，arecertainfeelingsoremotionswhichariseinthemindupontheviewofdifferentcharactersandactions；
andasresentmentmightbecalledasenseofinjuries，orgratitudeasenseofbenefits，sothesemayveryproperlyreceivethenameofasenseofrightandwrong，orofamoralsense。