Moderate.—With but a moderate developement of this organ, one will endeavour to act justly; and if Causality and Comparison are large, and the Selfish Propensities small, he will generally do so; but if the Selfish Propensities are very strong, he will be guided more by considerations of interest than of duty. If with this combination, and Adhesiveness large, while he will take advantage of a stranger in a pecuniary transaction, no power of circumstances can induce him to trespass on the rights of a friend. His compunctions of conscience will be few and feeble. He will not be scrupulous about what he requires of others, seeming to claim as a right, that they should make sacrifices to his interest and inclination. He will look more to the effect that actions and opinions will have upon himself, than upon their moral character. If Love of Approbation, Secretiveness and Destructiveness are large, he will be likely to indulge in harsh, censorious and unjust remarks upon the character of his neighbours, while at the same time, if Acquisitiveness is moderate or small, he will be strictly just in all his dealings.
Small.—With Conscientiousness small, one will have few or no compunctions of conscience; he will be ever ready to justify himself to himself, have little or no regard for moral principle, and an imperfect idea of right and wrong in the abstract. With large Self-esteem, Benevolence, and Adhesiveness, and with small Acquisitiveness and Secretiveness, he may be honest and kind-hearted in his general conduct, but it will be because he considers it dishonourable and unmanly to commit a mean action, and because it pains his Benevolence and Adhesiveness to injure another. With this combination he will extol his friends in the highest terms, but if he gets angry with them, he will traduce and vilify them, being in both cases regardless of their true merit. If Love of Approbation is large, he will adopt every means to please without regard to justice or propriety.
2. VENERATION.
This organ produces the sentiment of reverence, without regarding the character of the object on which it seeks exercise. By its influence man adores God, venerates saints, and respects parents, teachers and superiors in general. This organ is the source of natural religion, or that tendency to worship a superior power which manifests itself in every nation yet discovered.
Predominant.—With Veneration predominant, a person if religious, will be extremely devout, and will experience the most profound feelings of awe and respect in contemplating the attributes of the deity. If Marvellousness and Conscientiousness are large, he will be extremely susceptible of religious impressions, and will not fail to become a devout and enthusiastic adherent of the church.
Large.—A person with Veneration large, will feel profound respect for all persons and objects that are aged and venerable, or in any way entitled in his estimation to respect and confidence. With large Benevolence and Conscientiousness, he will not only act justly and charitably, but his actions will be accompanied and sustained by a feeling of respect and reverence for the abstract principles of justice and charity, that cannot be conceived by those who have this organ small. With large Love of Approbation, and small Conscientiousness, he will be disposed to think highly of those who are in high stations, the rich, the powerful and the grand. If Combativeness and Destructiveness are large, and Acquisitiveness small, while he may look with contempt upon the merely wealthy, he will feel much respect for the memory and character of the brave and patriotic. With large Intellect, the action of this organ will be exerted towards the character and persons of literary men.
Moderate.—With this organ but moderately developed, the sentiment of respect in general will have but a limited influence over the character of the individual. If Conscientiousness and Marvellousness are large, he will probably be religious, but he will not be so devout and enthusiastic in his devotions as many others with less real piety. If Love of Approbation is large, he will be exceedingly courteous and attentive, but his conduct will lack that deference and respect so necessary to conciliate esteem.
Small.—With Veneration but small, a person will be almost wholly destitute of the qualities ascribed to this organ. He may be religious, but the act of devotion will be a task to him, and he will be enabled to conceive those feelings of solemnity and awe, with which many are exercised. Children so constituted are disobedient and inattentive to their parents and teachers.
3. BENEVOLENCE.
This organ produces the desire of the happiness of others, and disposes to compassion and goodness of heart. It produces liberality of sentiment towards all mankind, and a disposition to love them and contribute to their pleasures. The benevolent man cannot feel happy, as long as famine, bodily suffering and mental misery are the bitter portion of his fellow creatures. He will never complain of the heartlessness or the ingratitude of others. He is so well aware of wishing well to others, that he does not doubt of their good will towards himself.