JB/015/378/001

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53

Besides the existence of the moral sense – if not organic or
intuitive, – will just be wanting where it is most wanted, – that is in
the case of those who have it not. It will explain what is understood
already & leave all the rest as great dark an enigma as before. It is a
medicine which will take effect only on those who are in good health, –
& we know who has said and how wisely he has said it "They that are whole
need not a physician!

It is in Vain att is the attempt to teach morals by declamation – or to
build theories out of facts opposed to all every thing we know. Is virtue
less virtuous because it is proved not to be disinterested? In no
sense whatever. Shall it the structure of morality be raised on
the foundation of truth or falsehood? Answer ye lovers of right!

Be men what they may it becomes us to know
them as they are – no flattering & faithless portrait will mend the
original. Were they still worse it could not but be useful
to study them honestly – for every rule and argument founded on
the an erroneous estimate must be erroneous useless idle or pernicious
in proportion to its erroneo the errors of that estimate. The knowledge
of man must be beneficial to man. The times of the grossest
depravity were have always been those of the darkest ignorance, – & never were
examples of enormous & devastating vice more abundant than
in the days when outrageous & useless sacrifices of happiness were
most sedulously preached & most scrupulously practised.

They who from discourse & they who legislate
on the supposition that man will act in opposition to acknowledged
interests makes morality a fable, & law a romance. Their
commands are nugatory – their expedients vain.

Identifier: | JB/015/378/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 15.
Date_1		Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	015	Main Headings	deontology
Folio number	378	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles
Category	linking material	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	f53
Penner	sir john bowring	Watermarks	[[watermarks::[britannia with shield emblem]]]
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	5594
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