Introduction
In The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759), Adam Smith has been discussing how the character of individuals may affect the happiness of wider society. He sets up a contrast between ‘the man of humanity and benevolence’, who respects others and tries to improve society by persuasion, and ‘the man of system’, who reaches out to move people and peoples around as if they were just pawns on a chessboard.
The man whose public spirit is prompted altogether by humanity and benevolence, will respect the established powers and privileges even of individuals, and still more those of the great orders and societies, into which the state is divided. Though he should consider some of them as in some measure abusive, he will content himself with moderating, what he often cannot annihilate without great violence. When he cannot conquer the rooted prejudices of the people by reason and persuasion, he will not attempt to subdue them by force; but will religiously observe what, by Cicero,* is justly called the divine maxim of Plato, never to use violence to his country no more than to his parents.
He will accommodate, as well as he can, his public arrangements to the confirmed habits and prejudices of the people; and will remedy as well as he can, the inconveniencies which may flow from the want of those regulations which the people are averse to submit to. When he cannot establish the right, he will not disdain to ameliorate the wrong; but like Solon,* when he cannot establish the best system of laws, he will endeavour to establish the best that the people can bear.
* Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC) was a Roman orator and lawmaker who was much admired by British philosophers of liberty in Smith’s day, including John Locke, David Hume, and Edmund Burke. His writings also strongly influenced the Founding Fathers of the United States of America.
* In 622 or 621 BC, the ruler of Athens, Draco, brought in a penal code of such irrational severity that his name became a byword for despotism, lending us the adjective ‘draconian’. Draco’s code was repealed almost in its entirety by Solon (?638 BC - 558 BC), who thereafter became a household name for his temperance and wisdom.
Précis
Adam Smith contrasted two political types, the man of humanity and benevolence and the man of system. The man of humanity and benevolence, he said, acts by persuasion rather than force; and some aspects of society may not please him, he does not impose his own values by force because he respects social custom and individual choice. (57 / 60 words)
Adam Smith contrasted two political types, the man of humanity and benevolence and the man of system. The man of humanity and benevolence, he said, acts by persuasion rather than force; and some aspects of society may not please him, he does not impose his own values by force because he respects social custom and individual choice.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, if, or, otherwise, ought, since, whereas, who.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
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