JB/015/423/001

Click Here To Edit

107

In the political world, Errors of opinion which
may well be called vulgar from their universality are the
sources of much uncharitableness & suffering. Such are those
which make
1. To make consummate Characters either in depravity or in virtue.
2. To attribute Those which refer every motion of public men to political motives – to which
attribute every action to ends and purposes which belong to them as politicians
and none to those which belong to them as men,
3. To attribute which lay every instance of supposed misconduct in public men
to the account of the depravity of the heart, and none to the imbecility of the head,
4. To which suppose every thing illegal which appears to them inexpedient.

True it is that every observer of public men may have
observed noticed instances of misconduct which would seem to
justify the severest judgment – but the severest judgment
is seldom the wisest – & the passions which in political
matters so often mingle with the estimate we form of
others sadly bewilder the intellect & play havoc with
the generous affections. The law of benevolence requires
that our thoughts of others should be candid & merciful –
& this the claim of prudence yet more emphatically
urges – for a harsh judgments of others will bring
back harsh judgments on ourselves – & the pleasure
of malevolence must be purchased by the reaction
of its penalties.

Identifier: | JB/015/423/001 "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	423	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles
Category	linking material	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	f107
Penner	sir john bowring	Watermarks	[[watermarks::[bell motif]]]
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	5639
Box Contents