The social and moral enjoyments, and those of honour, being the highest, the affections and actions that procure them are the chief means of happiness; amid human mischances, however, they need support from a trust in Providence.

The unkind affections and passions (anger, &c.) are uneasy even when innocent, and never were intended to become permanent dispositions.

The narrow kind of affections are all that can be expected from the majority of men, and are very good, if only they are not the occasion of unjust partiality to some, or, worse, ill-grounded aversion to others.

The rest of the chapter is taken up in painting the misery of the selfish passions when in excess--love of life, sensual pleasure, desire of power, glory, and ease.

He has still one 'object of affection to every rational mind' that he must deal with before he is done with considering the question of highest happiness.