Other related topics at: Virtue and Vice 834. Responsibility "This doctrine [of ruling passions] is in itself pernicious as well as false: its tendency is to produce the belief of a kind of moral predestination, or overruling principle which cannot be resisted; he that admits it, is prepared to comply with every desire that caprice or opportunity shall excite, and to flatter himself that he submits only to the lawful dominion of Nature, in obeying the resistless authority of his ruling passion." Johnson: Pope (Lives of the Poets) Link 840. Responsibility; Vanity "It is easy for every man, whatever be his character with others, to find reasons for esteeming himself; and therefore censure, contempt, or conviction of crimes seldom deprives him of his own favour. Those, indeed, who can see only external facts, may look upon him with abhorrence, but when he calls himself to his own tribunal, he finds every fault, if not absolutely effaced, yet so much palliated by the goodness of his intention, and the cogency of the motive, that very little guilt or turpitude remains; and when he takes a survey of the whole complication of his character, he discovers so many latent excellencies, so many virtues that want but an opportunity to exert themselves in act, and so many kind wishes for universal happiness, that he looks on himself as suffering unjustly under the infamy of single failings, while the general temper of his mind in unknown or unregarded." Johnson: Rambler #76 (December 8, 1750) Link 842. Responsibility "There are ... great numbers who have little recourse to the refinements of speculation, but who yet live at peace with themselves, by means which require less understanding or less attention. When their hearts are burthened with the consciousness of a crime, instead of looking for some remedy within themselves, they look upon the rest of mankind, to find others tainted with the same guilt: they please themselves with observing, that they have numbers on their side; and that though they are hunted out from the society of good men, they are not likely to be condemned to solitude." Johnson: Rambler #76 (December 8, 1750) Link 843. Hypocrisy; Responsibility "None are so industrious to detect wickedness, or so ready to impute it, as they whose crimes are apparent and confessed. They envy an unblemished reputation, and what they envy they are busy to destroy: they are unwilling to suppose themselves meaner and more corrupt than others, and therefore willingly pull down from their elevations those with whom they cannot rise to an equality." Johnson: Rambler #76 (December 8, 1750) Link