JB/015/406/001

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84

2d – Discourse – As to the Direction to be given to discourse when when the
well being of others is not concerned, little is required to
be said. Such ill timed or ill-judged conversation as is likely
to bring with it the resentment of others, belongs to another
branch of our inquiry. To that such discourse which as produces
no influence on the conduct of others towards us, but merely
leaves behind it a balance of pain from the reflection of its having
been calculated to upon lower us in their friendly opinion – to that such
discourse as which from that or any other cause we think of with after regret – so that when
the balance is drawn between the pleasures of giving it utterance
& the pains of future reflection, – something is found to be lost
to our personal happiness – to such discourse the character
of imprudence must attach, & therefore such discourse need
should be avoided. So again the discourse which being
pleasurable to the speaker gives no annoyance to the
hearer leaves so much of gain as the pleasure it excites.

But this is perilous ground inasmuch as annoyance
may often be felt by the listener to which he will
give no expression utterance, from his own prudential calculations – from the
desire of avoiding the appearance of contradiction, – & the expression of
displeasure. The only rule that can be given by way
of estimating the effect of conduct is to change places
with the other party – to apply the law of not doing
to another as we should desire another to do
unto us. A law, of great value & importance when made
subservient to the greatest happiness principle – but
inapplicable on many occasions, – and especially on
those where the infliction of pain is necessary to accomplish
the purposes of the moralist or the legislator, – since if
the offender, – who is the object of punishment, – could
claim the benefit of the principle rule just referred to it is clear
he would escape punishment altogether, – as no man
willingly vents entails suffering upon himself.

Identifier: | JB/015/406/001 "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	406	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles
Category	linking material	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	f84
Penner	sir john bowring	Watermarks
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	5622
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