Adam Smith: actually not fuch a fan of felfifhneff

Hey, Republicans - listen up:

And hence it is, that to feel much for others and little for ourselves, that to restrain our selfish, and to indulge our benevolent affections, constitutes the perfection of human nature; and can alone produce among mankind that harmony of sentiments and passions in which consists their whole grace and propriety. As to love our neighbour as we love ourselves is the great law of Christianity, so it is the great precept of nature to love ourselves only as we love our neighbour, or what comes to the same thing, as our neighbour is capable of loving us.

- Adam Smith, from 'The Theory of Moral Sentiments' (1759) Part I, Chapter V

(via the estimable Scott Horton's No Comment blog)