BOOK III PART III
sesses. Secondly, To the advantage, which we
hope to reap from him by his generosity and
liberality. Thirdly, To the pleasure and advan-
tage, which he himself reaps from his posses-
sions, and which produce an agreeable sympa-
thy in us. Whether we ascribe our esteem of
the rich and great to one or all of these causes,
we may clearly see the traces of those princi-
ples, which give rise to the sense of vice and
virtue. I believe most people, at first sight, will
be inclined to ascribe our esteem of the rich
to self-interest, and the prospect of advantage.
But as it is certain, that our esteem or defer-
ence extends beyond any prospect of advan-
tage to ourselves, it is evident, that that sen-
timent must proceed from a sympathy with
those, who are dependent on the person we es-
teem and respect, and who have an immediate
connexion with him. We consider him as a per-