not himself follow the practice, but rather conform in his conduct to the conventions of the world. In the same way as a good writer forbears to depart from the common use of words, so should a good citizen be careful not to deviate too readily from custom, though there may be much to be said against both. I am so positively convinced that man does every thing with an eye to his advantage (this word being taken in its widest sense), that I believe it just as necessary to the up-keep of the world as sensibility to the preservation of the body. It is enough that our own advantage, in so very many instances, can not be attained without making thousands of others happy, and that our original motive so wisely managed to combine the interest of one individual with the interests of many.
To learn to bring it vividly home to one that nobody is entirely happy, is perhaps the shortest way to become entirely happy. No one, indeed, is perfectly happy ; but of suffering there are countless degrees, and there lies the mischief.
My body is the one particular portion of the universe which my thoughts can alter. Even imaginary complaints may become real ones. As regards all else in the world my theories are unable to affect the order of things.
Intentional virtue is never worth very much; feeling or habitude is the thing.
