| Here then is a passion placed betwixt two ideas, of which the one produces it, and the other is produced by it. |
| The first idea, therefore, represents the cause, the second the object of the passion. |
| To begin with the causes of pride and humility; we may observe, that their most obvious and remarkable property is the vast variety of subjects, on which they may be placed. |
| Every valuable quality of the mind, whether of the imagination, judgment, memory or disposition; wit, good-sense, learning, courage, justice, integrity; all these are the cause of pride; and their opposites of humility. |
| Nor are these passions confined to the mind but extend their view to the body likewise. |
| A man may he proud of his beauty, strength, agility, good mein, address in dancing, riding, and of his dexterity in any manual business or manufacture. |
| But this is not all. |
| The passions looking farther, comprehend whatever objects are in the least allyed or related to us. |
| Our country, family, children, relations, riches, houses, gardens, horses, dogs, cloaths; any of these may become a cause either of pride or of humility. |
| From the consideration of these causes, it appears necessary we shoud make a new distinction in the causes of the passion, betwixt that QUALITY, which operates, and the subject, on which it is placed. |
| A man, for instance, is vain of a beautiful house, which belongs to him, or which he has himself built and contrived. |
| Here the object of the passion is himself, and the cause is the beautiful house: Which cause again is sub-divided into two parts, viz. |
| the quality, which operates upon the passion, and the subject in which the quality inheres. |
| The quality is the beauty, and the subject is the house, considered as his property or contrivance. |
| Both these parts are essential, nor is the distinction vain and chimerical. |
| Beauty, considered merely as such, unless placed upon something related to us, never produces any pride or vanity; and the strongest. |
| relation alone, without beauty, or something else in its place, has as little influence on that passion. |
| Since, therefore, these two particulars are easily separated and there is a necessity for their conjunction, in order to produce the passion, we ought to consider them as component parts of the cause; and infix in our minds an exact idea of this distinction. |
| SECT. III WHENCE THESE OBJECTS AND CAUSES ARE DERIVED |
| Being so far advanced as to observe a difference betwixt the object of the passions and their cause, and to distinguish in the cause the quality, which operates on the passions, from the subject, in which it inheres; we now proceed to examine what determines each of them to be what it is, and assigns such a particular object, and quality, and subject to these affections. |
| By this means we shall fully understand the origin of pride and humility. |