《道德情操论·卷一·论行为的合宜性·二之三·论不友好的情感》第6节
How many things are requisite to render the gratification of resentment completely agreeable, and to make the spectator thoroughly sympathize with our revenge? The provocation must first of all be such that we should become contemptible, and be exposed to perpetual insults, if we did not, in some measure, resent it. Smaller offences are always better neglected; nor is there anything more despicable than that froward and captious humour which takes fire upon every slight occasion of quarrel. We should resent more from a sense of the propriety of resentment, from a sense, that mankind expect and require it of us, than because we feel in ourselves the furies of that disagreeable passion. There is no passion, of which the human mind is capable, concerning whose justness we ought to be so doubtful, concerning whose indulgence we ought so carefully to consult our natural sense of {37} propriety, or so diligently to consider what will be the sentiments of the cool and impartial spectator. Magnanimity, or a regard to maintain our own rank and dignity in society, is the only motive which can ennoble the expressions of this disagreeable passion. This motive must characterize our whole style and deportment. These must be plain, open, and direct; determined without positiveness, and elevated without insolence; not only free from petulance and low scurrility, but generous, candid, and full of all proper regards, even for the person who has offended us. It must appear, in short, from our whole manner, without our labouring affectedly to express it, that passion has not extinguished our humanity; and that if we yield to the dictates of revenge, it is with reluctance, from necessity, and in consequence of great and repeated provocations. When resentment is guarded and qualified in this manner, it may be admitted to be even generous and noble.
注释摘要
斯密在这一段里把整章关于憎恨与怨恨的讨论推到了一个非常具体的规范性问题面前：一个人表达怨恨，要满足多少条件，旁人才会完全赞同、彻底与之同感？他给出的答案不是一条简单的规则，而是一整套层层递进的约束。这些约束反过来揭示了他道德心理学的一个核心洞见：像怨恨这种本身就令人不快的激情，要变得合宜，必须几乎完全被社会性的判断驯服。 他首先设定了一个最低门槛：挑衅必须…