Page:A discourse upon the origin and foundation of the inequality among mankind (IA discourseuponori00rous).pdf/143

tempted to diſobey her ſweet and gentle Voice: it is this Pity which will always hinder a robuſt Savage from plundering a feeble Child, or infirm old Man, of the Subſiſtence they have acquired with Pain and Difficulty, if he has but the leaſt Proſpect of providing for himſelf by any other Means: it is this Pity which, inſtead of that ſublime Maxim of argumentative Juſtice, Do to others as you would have others do to you, inſpires all Men with that other Maxim of natural Goodneſs a great deal leſs perfect, but perhaps more uſeful, Conſult your own Happineſs with as little Prejudice as you can to that of others. It is in a word, in this natural Sentiment, rather than in fine-ſpun Arguments, that we muſt look for the Cauſe of that Reluctance which every Man would experience to do Evil, even independently of the Maxims of Education. Tho' it may be the peculiar Happineſs of Socrates and other Geniuſes of his Stamp,