vels, and dramas, are the richest
sources of moral stimulus because they lead us into the immediate
presence of those men and women whose deeds stir up our moral natures.
In the representations of the masters we are in the presence of moral
ideas clothed in flesh and blood, real and yet idealized. Generosity
is not a name but the act of a person which wins our interest and,
favor. To get the impress of kindness we must see an act of kindness
and feel the glow it produces. When Sir Philip Sidney, wounded on the
battle field and suffering with thirst, reached out his hand for a cup
of water that was brought, his glance fell upon a dying soldier who
viewed the cup with great desire; Sidney handed him the water with the
words, "Thy necessity is greater than mine." No one can refuse his
approval for this act. After telling the story of the man who went
down to Jericho and fell among thieves, and then of the priest, the
Levite, and the Samaritan who passed that way, Jesus put the question
to his critic, "Who was neighbor to him that fell among thieves?" And
the answer came even from unwilling lips, "He that showed mercy." When
Nathan Hale on the scaffold regretted that he had but one life to lose
for his country, we realize better what patriotism is. On the other
hand it is natural to _condemn wrong deeds_ when presented clearly and
objectively in the action of another. Nero caused Christians to be
falsely accused and then to be condemned to the claws of wild beasts in
the arena. When such cruelty is practiced against the innocent and
helpless, we condemn the act. When Columbus was thrown into chains
instead of being rewarded, we condemn the Spaniards. In the same way
the real world of persons about us, the acts of parents, companions,
and teachers are powerful in giving a good or bad tone to our
sentiments, because, as living object lessons, their impress is
directly and constantly upon us.

In such cases taken from daily experience and from illustrations of
personal conduct in books, it is possible to observe _how moral
judgments originate_ and by repetition grow into convictions. They
spring up naturally and surely when we understand well the
circumstances under which an act was performed. The interest and
sympathy felt for the persons lends great vividness to the judgments
expressed. Each individual act stands out clearly and calls forth a
prompt and unerring approval or disapproval. (But later the judgmen