Every one has present and distant interests,
and the improvident man is he who cares for the present interests
and does not care for the distant. It matters little that on any
correct calculation the latter may be the more considerable, if the
habits of his mind lead him to fix his thoughts and wishes solely on
the former. It would be vain to attempt to persuade a man who beats
his wife and ill-treats his children that he would be happier if he
lived in love and kindness with them. He would be happier if he were
the kind of person who could so live; but he is not, and it is
probably too late for him to become, that kind of person. Being what
he is, the gratification of his love of domineering, and the
indulgence of his ferocious temper, are to his perceptions a greater
good to himself than he would be capable of deriving from the pleasure
and affection of those dependent on him. He has no pleasure in their
pleasure, and does not care for their affection. His neighbour, who
does, is probably a happier man than he; but could he be persuaded
of this, the persuasion would, most likely, only still further
exasperate his malignity or his irritability. On the average, a person
who cares for other people, for his country, or for mankind, is a
happier man than one who does not; but of what use is it to preach
this doctrine to a man who cares for nothing but his own ease, or
his own pocket? He cannot care for other people if he would.
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