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112
Chapter XIV
Effective Benevolence – positive
As The negative branch of effective benevolence comprises as we have seen those
acts in or rather that absence of action by which the giving pain
to others is avoided – the positive branch consists of those acts by
which pleasure is given communicated. This branch is far less extensive than
the other inasmuch as the powers possessed by the majority of
the community at least to communicate happiness to others, are
far less extensive than the powers of creating causing misery to others.
Nearly every man has over nearly every other man around him the means power of inflicting injury in various forms. – but
very few men have in their hands the power instruments of any There are many pains which a man can cause another to suffer which have no corresponding pleasures that he can offer to that other to enjoy. There is We have no sense which may not be offended at the pleasurewill of another – but those senses are not equally subject to him who seeks to gratify them against or without our will. Anoth Any man may strike, or wound another: but it is not the privilege of every man to be able to add to another's happiness.
which the power of adding to the happiness of others is for the most
part necessarily being bound in These in extent and in operation The limitation of this power is the necessary consequence of the
fact that man is to a very great extent the creator & the
guardian of his own happiness and thus not subjected happily for myself man
That portion for which he depends on others is small – that
for which he only depends only on himself is great. And in
this power over his own pains & pleasures consists happiness – that happiness
greatly consists. Who also would judge of pains & pleasures
as accurately as he does who experiences them? Who, if
the thing it were possible, – would put the dominion of
his enjoyments & sufferings into another's hands? In To whose
never-ceasing watchfulness – to whose self-devoted sympathies –
to whose omniscient wisdom – would any man give over for a single day –
all the sources of pains& pleasures within & without him.
One moment of forgetfulness – one moment of the malevolence –
one moment of ignorance – & the fabric of pleasure felicity
might be shattered. Happy indeed is it for man that
he is the master of his own well-being – & that, with few
& rare exceptions he has nobody to thank but himself
if he fail to obtain it.
But this positive effective benevolence – What
does it demand but deprivation? In as far as it is called
into action – is it not impoverishment? Does it not take
away more than it substitutes in return? Not so – for
then it gets into the regions of imprudence – & prudence
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