his own interest, whatever he places it in, as may hinder him from
ATTENDING to many gratifications within his reach, which others have
their minds FREE and OPEN to. Over-fondness for a child is not
generally thought to be for its advantage; and, if there be any
guess to be made from appearances, surely that character we call
selfish is not the most promising for happiness. Such a temper may
plainly be, and exert itself in a degree and manner which may give
unnecessary and useless solicitude and anxiety, in a degree and
manner which may prevent obtaining the means and materials of
enjoyment, as well as the making use of them. Immoderate self-love
does very ill consult its own interest: and, how much soever a
paradox it may appear, it is certainly true that even from self-love
we should endeavour to get over all inordinate regard to and
consideration of ourselves. Every one of our passions and
affections hath its natural stint and bound, which may easily be
exceeded; whereas our enjoyments can possibly be but in a
determinate measure and degree. Therefore such excess of the
affection, since it cannot procure any enjoyment, must in all cases
be useless; but is generally attended with inconveniences, and often
is downright pain and misery. This holds as much with regard to
self-love as to all other affections. The natural degree of it, so
far as it sets us on work to gain and make use of the materials of
satisfaction, may be to our real advantage; but beyond or besides
this, it is in several respects an inconvenience and disadvantage.
Thus it appears that private interest is so far from being likely to
be promoted in proportion to the degree in which self-love engrosses
us, and prevails over all other principles, that the contracted
affection may be so prevalent as to disappoint itself, and even
contradict its own and private good.