Joseph Butler Quotes

The final causes, then, of compassion are to prevent and to relieve misery.
The object of self-love is expressed in the term self; and every appetite of sense, and every particular affection of the heart, are equally interested or disinterested, because the objects of them all are equally self or somewhat else.
The principle we call self-love never seeks anything external for the sake of the thing, but only as a means of happiness or good: particular affections rest in the external things themselves.
The private interest of the individual would not be sufficiently provided for by reasonable and cool self-love alone; therefore the appetites and passions are placed within as a guard and further security, without which it would not be taken due care of.
The sum of the whole is plainly this: The nature of man considered in his single capacity, and with respect only to the present world, is adapted and leads him to attain the greatest happiness he can for himself in the present world.
The tongue may be employed about, and made to serve all the purposes of vice, in tempting and deceiving, in perjury and injustice.
There is a much more exact correspondence between the natural and moral world than we are apt to take notice of.
Things and actions are what they are, and the consequences of them will be what they will be: why then should we desire to be deceived?
This was the man, this Balaam, I say, was the man, who desired to die the death of the righteous, and that his last end might be like his; and this was the state of his mind when he pronounced these words.
Thus self-love as one part of human nature, and the several particular principles as the other part, are, themselves, their objects and ends, stated and shown.
Thus there is no doubt the eye was intended for us to see with.
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AuthorName
Joseph Butler
Profession
Clergyman
BirthDate
18 May, 1692
DeathDate
16 June, 1752
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