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Click on the phrases to see them in context. The original texts by Immanuel Kant and David Hume are available from the Gutenberg Projet.
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These actions are properly what we call justice; and consequently it is on that virtue that the nature of property depends, and not the virtue on the property. As to the third sense of the word, it is certain, that both vice and virtue are equally artificial, and out of nature. At least it must be owned, that heroic virtue, being as unusual, is as little natural as the most brutal barbarity. Nothing is more disagreeable than a man's over-weaning conceit of himself: Every one almost has a strong propensity to this vice: No one can well distinguish in himself betwixt the vice and virtue, or be certain, that his esteem of his own merit is well-founded: For these reasons, all direct expressions of this passion are condemned; nor do we make any exception to this rule in favour of men of sense and merit. Perhaps it will appear afterwards, that our sense of some virtues is artificial, and that of others natural. It is more natural, therefore, to think, that the tendencies of the latter virtue will affect our sentiments, and command our approbation, than those of the former; and therefore, since we find, that the approbation of the former arises from their tendencies, we may ascribe, with better reason, the same cause to the approbation of the latter. Now it has been observed, that our own sensations determine the vice and virtue of any quality, as well as those sensations, which it may excite in others.