无论何种人，无论假定他有多么自私，在他的本性里显然会有一些法则。自私的本性使他对别人的财富感兴趣，除了一睹之快以外，虽然从中得不到财富，但也仍然必不可少地给予了他幸福。当我们或者见到的，或者在一个栩栩如生的处境里联想到的，别人的悲惨不幸，使我们触发的这种情感或是怜悯，或着是同情。通常，我们从别人的悲痛中产生的痛苦的情感大概是太明显了，以至于不需要任何例证来证明。这种多愁善感，如同人类天性里的一切其他原始激情一样，尽管有可能被他们最细腻的敏察感觉到，决不应该限定在道德和人道的范筹里。最坏的流氓，最顽固的社会法律的违规人都不会没有这种情感。
How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it except the pleasure of seeing it. Of this kind is pity or compassion, the emotion which we feel for the misery of others, when we either see it, or are made to conceive it in a very lively manner. That we often derive sorrow from the sorrow of others, is a matter of fact too obvious to require any instances to prove it; for this sentiment, like all the other original passions of human nature, is by no means confined to the virtuous and humane, though they perhaps may feel it with the most exquisite sensibility. The greatest ruffian, the most hardened violator of the laws of society, is not altogether without it.
