Essay on the Nature and Conduct of the Passions (1728)

appear perhaps too uncertain; considering that the sense of particular persons is often depraved by custom, habits, false opinions, and company: and that some particular kind passions toward some persons are really pernicious, and attended with very unkind affections toward others, or at least with a neglect of their interests. We must therefore only assert in general, that “everyone calls that temper, or those

“actions, virtuous which are ap-
“proved by his own sense;” and
withal, that “abstracting from par-
“ticular habits or prejudices, every-
“one is so constituted as to approve
“every particular kind affection
“toward anyone, which argues no
“want of affection toward others.
“And constantly to approve that
“temper which desires, and those
“actions which tend to procure
“the greatest moment of good The "moment of good" refers to the total quantity or weight of good produced. in
“the power of the agent toward