《道德情操论·卷六·论德性的品质·三·论自制》第8节
The disposition to the affections which tend to unite men in society to humanity, kindness, natural affection, friendship, esteem, may sometimes be excessive. Even the excess of this disposition, however, renders a man interesting to every body. Though we blame it, we still regard it with compassion, and even with kindness, and never with dislike. We are more sorry for it than angry at it. To the person {216} himself, the indulgence even of such excessive affections is, upon many occasions, not only agreeable, but delicious. Upon some occasions, indeed, especially when directed, as is too often the case, towards unworthy objects, it exposes him to much real and heartfelt distress. Even upon such occasions, however, a well-disposed mind regards him with the most exquisite pity, and feels the highest indignation against those who affect to despise him for his weakness and imprudence. The defect of this disposition, on the contrary, what is called hardness of heart, while it renders a man insensible to the feelings and distresses of other people, renders other people equally insensible to his; and, by excluding him from the friendship of all the world, excludes him from the best and most comfortable of all social enjoyments.
注释摘要
斯密在这一段里讨论的是那类将人联结在一起的情感——仁爱、善意、亲情、友谊、敬重——是否可能过度，以及过度与不足各自的后果。他不是在提倡一种情感越多越好的伦理学，而是用同情机制来检验这个问题。在同情机制里，旁观者判断一种情感是否合宜，要看它的强度与引发它的处境是否相称。但斯密在这里发现了一个不对称的现象：这类联结性情感的过度，旁观者虽然会责备，却不会厌恶，反…