the Poor in Bavaria. 307 



incitement to us to relieve them ; for nothing is more 

 certain than that their crimes are very often the effects, 

 not the causes, of their misery ; and when this is the 

 case, by removing the cause, the effects will cease. 



Nothing is more extraordinary and unaccountable 

 than the inconsistency of mankind in every thing, even 

 in the practice of that divine virtue, benevolence ; and 

 most of our mistakes arise more from indolence and from 

 inattention than from any thing else. The busy part 

 of mankind are too intent upon their own private pur- 

 suits ; and those who have leisure are too averse from 

 giving themselves trouble to investigate a subject but 

 too generally considered as tiresome and uninteresting. 

 But if it be true that we are really happy only in 

 proportion as we ought to be so, — that is, in proportion 

 as we are instrumental in promoting the happiness of 

 others, — no study surely can be so interesting as that 

 which teaches us how most effectually to contribute to 

 the well-being of our fellow-creatures. 



If love be blind, self-love is certainly very short-sight- 

 ed ; and, without the assistance of reason and reflection, 

 is but a bad guide in the pursuit of happiness. 



Those who take pleasure in depreciating all the social 

 virtues have represented pity as a mere selfish passion ; 

 and there are some circumstances which appear to jus- 

 tify this opinion. It is certain that the misfortunes 

 of others affect us not in proportion to their greatness, 

 but in proportion to their nearness to ourselves, or to 

 the chances that they may reach us in our turns. A 

 rich man is infinitely more affected at the misfortune of 

 his neighbour, who, by the failure of a banker with 

 whom he had trusted the greater part of his fortune, 

 by an unlucky run at play, or by other losses, is reduced 



