《道德情操论·卷六·论德性的品质·一·论个人品质中影响自身幸福的部分（论审慎）》第4节
In the steadiness of his industry and frugality, in his steadily sacrificing the ease and enjoyment of the present moment for the probable {190} expectation of the still greater ease and enjoyment of a more distant but more lasting period of time, the prudent man is always both supported and rewarded by the entire approbation of the impartial spectator, and of the representative of the impartial spectator, the man within the breast. The impartial spectator does not feel himself worn out by the present labour of those whose conduct he surveys; nor does he feel himself solicited by the importunate calls of their present appetites. To him their present, and what is likely to be their future, situation, are very nearly the same: he sees them nearly at the same distance, and is affected by them very nearly in the same manner. He knows, however, that to the persons principally concerned, they are very far from being the same, and that they naturally affect them in a very different manner. He cannot therefore but approve, and even applaud, that proper exertion of self-command, which enables them to act as if their present and their future situation affected them nearly in the same manner in which they affect him. The man who lives within his income, is naturally contented with his situation, which, by continual, though small accumulations, is growing better and better every day. He is enabled gradually to relax, both in the rigour of his parsimony and in the severity of his application; and he feels with double satisfaction this gradual increase of ease and enjoyment, from having felt before the hardship which attended the want of them. He has no anxiety to change so comfortable a situation and does not go in quest of new enterprises and adventures, which might endanger, but could not well increase the secure tranquillity which he actually enjoys. If he enters into any new projects or enterprises, they are likely to be well concerted and well prepared. He can never be hurried or driven into them by any necessity, but has always time and leisure to deliberate soberly and coolly concerning what are likely to be their consequences.
注释摘要
这段文字在论证审慎何以获得道德赞同。斯密要解释的是：为什么一个节制、勤俭、为长远牺牲眼前的人，会让我们觉得他做得对、值得称赞？他的回答建立在一个感觉机制上——我们把自己放在一个想象出来的旁观者位置，从这个位置去看那个人的行为与处境，然后生出一种判断来。 审慎的核心在这里被他放在时间维度上来看。审慎的人所做的，是压抑当下的欲望与安逸，去换取一个更远但更持久的…