The Theory of Moral Sentiments

"The great source of both the misery and disorders of human life, seems to arise from over-rating the difference between one permanent situation and another.  …

… Avarice over-rates the difference between poverty and riches:  

… ambition, that between a private and a public station:

… vain-glory, that between obscurity and extensive reputation.

… The person under the influence of any of those extravagant passions, is not only miserable in his actual situation, …

…but is often disposed to disturb the peace of society, in order to arrive at that which he so foolishly admires.  ….

……  Some of those situations may, no doubt, deserve to be preferred to others: …

… but none of them can deserve to be pursued with that passionate ardour which drives us to violate the rules …

… either…

… of prudence or …

… of justice; …

…or to corrupt the future tranquillity of our minds, …

…either by shame from the remembrance of our own folly, …

…or by remorse from the horror of our own injustice."

— Adam Smith ("The Theory of Moral Sentiments")

[ The prequel to "The Wealth of Nations"]