《道德情操论·卷一·论行为的合宜性·三之三·论道德情感因崇拜富贵、轻视贫贱而败坏》第3节
In the superior stations of life the case is unhappily not always the same. In the courts of princes, in the drawing-rooms of the great, where success and preferment depend, not upon the esteem of intelligent and well-informed equals, but upon the fanciful and foolish favour of ignorant, presumptuous, and proud superiors; flattery and falsehood too often prevail over merit and abilities. In such societies the abilities to please, are more regarded than the abilities to serve. In quiet and peaceable times, when the storm is at a distance, the prince, or great man, wishes only to be amused, and is even apt to fancy that he has scarce any occasion for the service of any body, or that those who amuse him are sufficiently able to serve him. The external graces, the frivolous accomplishments of that impertinent and foolish thing called a man of fashion, are commonly more admired than the solid and {59} masculine virtues of a warrior, a statesman, a philosopher, or a legislator. All the great and awful virtues, all the virtues which can fit, either for the council, the senate, or the field, are, by the insolent and insignificant flatterers, who commonly figure the most in such corrupted societies, held in the utmost contempt and derision. When the Duke of Sully was called upon by Louis the Thirteenth, to give his advice in some great emergency, he observed the favourites and courtiers whispering to one another, and smiling at his unfashionable appearance. 'Whenever your Majesty's father,' said the old warrior and statesman, 'did me the honour to consult me, he ordered the buffoons of the court to retire into the antechamber.'
注释摘要
斯密在这一段里完成了一个冷峻的结构性对比。前面他刚说过，在中下层社会里，通往美德的路和通往财富的路大体上是同一条，因为普通人的成功依赖邻人和同辈的尊重，而这种尊重通常只有靠审慎、正直、坚定、节制的品行才能赢取。所以在那样的处境里，诚实差不多就是最佳策略，社会也因此拥有了相当程度的道德保障。但一到上等社会，画面立刻就变了。 他拿出来对照的是宫廷、豪门客厅这些…