Other related topics at:
Religion and Morality
Virtue and Vice
3.
Bolingbroke; Morality; Religion
"Sir, he [Bolingbroke] was a scoundrel, and a coward: a
scoundrel for charging a blunderbuss against religion and
morality; a coward, because he had not resolution to fire it off
himself, but left half a crown to a beggarly Scotchman, to draw
the trigger after his death!"
Boswell: Life
24. Intentions;
Morality
"The morality of an action depends on the motive from which we
act. If I fling half a crown to a beggar with intention to break
his head, and he picks it up and buys victuals with it, the
physical effect is good; but, with respect to me, the action is
very wrong. So, religious exercises, if not performed with an
intention to please God, avail us nothing. As our Savior says of
those who perform them from other motives, 'Verily they have
their reward.'"
Boswell: Life
37. Morality;
Scruples
Boswell: I described to him an impudent fellow from
Scotland, who affected to be a savage, and railed at all
established systems. Johnson: "There is nothing
surprizing in this, Sir. He wants to make himself conspicuous.
He would tumble in a hogstye, as long as you looked at him and
called to him to come out. But let him alone, never mind him,
and he'll soon give it over." Boswell: I added that
the same person maintained that there was no distinction between
virtue and vice. Johnson: "Why, Sir, if the fellow
does not think as he speaks, he is lying; and I see not what
honour he can propose to himself from having the character of a
liar. But if he does really think that there is no distinction
between virtue and vice, why, Sir, when he leaves our houses let
us count our spoons."
Boswell: Life
