《道德情操论·卷六·论德性的品质·二之三·论普遍的仁慈》第4节
The administration of the great system of the universe, however, the care of the universal happiness of all rational and sensible beings, is the business of God and not of man. To man is allotted a much humbler department, but one much more suitable to the weakness of his powers, and to the narrowness of his comprehension; the care of his own happiness, of that of his family, his friends, his country: that he is occupied in contemplating the more sublime, can never be an excuse for his neglecting the more humble department; and he must not expose himself to the charge which Avidius Cassius is said to have brought, perhaps unjustly, against Marcus Antoninus; that while he employed himself in philosophical speculations, and contemplated the prosperity of the universe, he neglected that of the Roman empire. The most sublime speculation of the contemplative philosopher can scarce compensate the neglect of the smallest active duty.
注释摘要
斯密在前面用了很长的篇幅铺设了一条上升的阶梯：人可以从对自己幸福的关切，逐级扩大到家庭、朋友、国家，最终抵达对整个宇宙中一切有感知有理性者的普遍仁慈。在这种心境里，智者甚至愿意把自己的小我的、小群体的利益，心甘情愿地奉献给宇宙这个更大系统的繁荣。他还用士兵愉快地走向绝地来类比这种对神圣秩序的欣然服从。但就在这个视野被拉到最高处的时候，斯密忽然刹住了脚步，划…