158 THE DESCENT OF MAN 



it would meet with their disapprobation; and few are so des- 

 titute of sympathy as not to feel discomfort when this is 

 realized. If he has no such sympathy, and if his desires 

 leading to bad actions are at the time strong, and when re- 

 called are not overmastered by the persistent social instincts 

 and the judgment of others, then he is essentially a bad 

 man;'" and the sole restraining motive left is the fear of 

 punishment, and the conviction that in the long run it 

 would be best for his own selfish interests to regard the 

 good of others rather than his own. 



It is obvious that every one may with an easy conscience 

 gratify his own desires, if they do not interfere with his 

 social instincts, that is with the good of others ; but in order 

 to be quite free from self-reproach, or at least of anxiety, it 

 is almost necessary for him to avoid the disapprobation, 

 whether reasonable or not, of his fellow-men. Nor must 

 he break through the fixed habits of his life, especially if 

 these are supported by reason; for if he does, he will as- 

 suredly feel dissatisfaction. He must likewise avoid the 

 reprobation of the one Grod or gods in whom, according 

 to his knowledge or superstition, he may believe; but in 

 this case the additional fear of divine punishment often 

 supervenes. 



The strictly Social Virtues at first alone regarded. — The 

 above view of the origin and nature of the moral sense, 

 which tells us what we ought to do, and of the conscience 

 which reproves us if we disobey it, accords well with what 

 we see of the early and undeveloped condition of this faNs- 

 ulty in mankind. The virtues which must be practiced, at 

 least generally, by rude men, so that they may associate in 

 a body, are those which are still recognized as the most 

 important. But they are practiced almost exclusively in 

 relation to the men of the same tribe; and their oppositea 



"> Dr. Prosper Sespine in his "Psyohologie Naturelle," 1808 (torn, i, p. 

 343; torn, ii. p. 169), ^ves many curious cases ot the worst criminals, woo 

 tfjiparently have been eatiiely destitute of consoieuoe. 



