'' The same considerations dispose of another reproach
against the doctrine of utility, founded on a still
grosser misconception of the purpose of a standard of
morality, and of the very meaning of the words right
and wrong. 1 It is often affirmed that utilitarianism
r enders men cold an d-imsympaJihizing ; that it chills




ITS MEANING. 29

beir moral feeli ngs toward s individuals ; that it makes
pern regard only the dry and hard consideration of

Be consequences of actions, not taking into their —

I estimate the quahties from which those actions
emanate, j If_ Uie assert ion means that they do not/ ^ ,
allow theirjudgment respecting the rightnessorwrong-/ ' j^ *t<
ness of an action to he influenced hy their opinion or- ***^
the qualities of tlie person who does it, this is a com4 , ^,^^1^
plaint not ii,gaiust utilitarianism, but against havingj c-^^
any standard of morality at all ; for certainly no known '*'*^
ethical standard decides an actio^i to be good or bad -''
i it is done by a good or a bad man, still less
ause done by an amiable, a brave, or a benevolent
n, or the contrary. These considerations are rele^
vant, not to the estimation of actions, but of persons ;
and there is nothing in the utilitarian theory inconsis-
tent with the fact that tBere'are other things which
bterest us in persons besides the rightness and wrong-
3es ^jfclieir actions. The Stoics, Indeed, with the
^aradoxlctd misuse of language which was part of their
system, and by which they strove to raise themselves
above all concern about anything but virtue, were fond

K saying that he who has that has everything ; that
, and only he, is rich, is beautiful, is a king. But
claim of this description Is made for the virtuous
n by the utilitarian doctrine. Utilitarians are quite — '
are that there are other desirable possessions and
qualities besides virtue, and are perfectly willing to
allow to all of them their full worth. They are also
aware that a right action does not necessarily indicate
a virtuous character, and that actions which are blame- __
able often proceed from qualities entitled to praise,
hen this is apparent in any particular case, it modi-



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30 UTILITARIANISM.
