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Essays On Philosophical Subjects / By The late Adam Smith, LL. D. Fellow Of The Royal Societies Of London And Edinburgh, &c. &c.. To Which Is Prefixed, An Account of the Life and Writings of the Author / By Dugald Stewart, F.R.S.E.
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WRITINGS OF DR. SMITH. XXVII

pathize with them. It is unbecoming to cry outwith bodily pain, becaufe the fympathy felt bythe fpeclator bears no proportion to the acutenefsof what is felt by the fufferer. The cafe is fome-what, fimilar with thofe palfions wliich take theirorigin from a particular turn or habit of the ima-gination.

In the cafe of the unfocial paffions of hatred andrefentment, the fympathy of the fpeftator is di-vided between the perfon ivhc feels the paffion,and the perfon who is the object of it. Wete are concerned for both, and our fear for w'hat the one may fuller damps our refentment for what the other has fullered. Hence the im-perfect degree in which we fympathize with fuchpalfions ; and the propriety, when we are undertheir influence, of moderating their exprelfion toa much greater degree than is required in the cafeof any other emotions.

The reverfe of this takes place with refpeCt toall the focial and benevolent affections. The fym-pathy of the fpeClator with the perfon who feelsthem, coincides with his concern for the perfonwho is the objeCt of them. It is this redoubledfympathy which renders thefe affections fo pecu-liarly becoming and agreeable.

The felfifli emotions of grief and joy, whenthey are conceived on account of our own private 1good or bad fortune, hold a fort of middle place