Experience. As many Ages as have elaps'd since the Fall of Greece and Rome, and such Changes as have arriv'd in Religion, Language, Laws, and Customs; none of these Revolutions has ever produc'd any considerable Innovation in the primary Sentiments of Morals, more than in those of external Beauty. Some minute Differences, perhaps, may be observ'd in both. Horace[1] celebrates a low Forehead, and Anacreon join'd Eye-brows[2]: But the Apollo and the Venus of Antiquity are still our Models for Male and Female Beauty; in like Manner as the Character of Scipio continues our Standard for the Glory of Heroes, and that of Cornelia for the Honour of Matrons.
It appears, that there never was any Quality, recommended by any one, as a Virtue or moral Excellence; but on account of its being useful, or agreeable, to a Man himself, or to others. For what other Reason can there ever be for Praise or Approbation? Or where would be the Sense of extolling good Character of Action, which, at the same Time, is allow'd to be good for nothing? All the Differences, therefore, in Morals may be reduc'd to this
one
