ABSTRACT

Let us suppose however that the debtor is clearly in the wrong … Let us suppose that these are vices that will admit of no explanation. Yet how great and eminent virtues may exist in this man’s bosom. He may be the most generous and philanthropical of mortals. He may be the greatest benefactor the human species ever knew. Every man probably is inconsistent. Every man probably, be he in whatever degree virtuous, has some point to which unaccountably he has not applied those principles by which he is ordinarily governed .… In judging the past conduct, particularly of others, he that is not liberal and indulgent, is not just. 1