XXVin ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND

between our focial and our unfocial pa (lions. Theyare never fo graceful as the one fet, nor fo odiousas the other. Even when exceflive, they are neverfo difagreeable as exceflive refentment; becaufenooppofite fympathy can ever intereft us againftthem : and when moil fuitable to their objefts,they are never fo agreeable as impartial humanityand juft benevolence; becaufe no double fympathycan ever intereft us for them,

After thefe general fpeculations concerning thepropriety of a (Tons, Mr. Smith examines howfar the judgments of mankind concerning it areliable to be influenced in particular cafes, by theprofperous or the adverfe circumftancesofthe agent.The fcope of his reafoning on this fubje£l is direc-ted to fliow, (in oppofttion to the common opi-nion ,) that when there is no envy in the cafe,our propenflty to fympathize with joy is muchftronger than our propenflty to fympathize withforrow; and, of confequence, that it is more eafyto obtain the approbation of mankind in profperitythan in adverftty. From the fame principle hetraces the origin of ambition, or of the defire ofrank and pre-eminence; the great objedt of whichpaflion is, to attain that lituation which fets a manrooft in the view of general fympathy and atten-tion , and gives him an eafy empire over the affec-tions of others.