A Treatise of Human Nature

(Jeff_L) #1

BOOK II PART III


deed, scarce any other objects become disagree-
able through custom; but such as are natu-
rally attended with some emotion or affection,
which is destroyed by the too frequent repeti-
tion. One can consider the clouds, and heav-
ens, and trees, and stones, however frequently
repeated, without ever feeling any aversion.
But when the fair sex, or music, or good cheer,
or any thing, that naturally ought to be agree-
able, becomes indifferent, it easily produces the
opposite affection.


But custom not only gives a facility to per-
form any action, but likewise an inclination
and tendency towards it, where it is not en-
tirely disagreeable, and can never be the ob-
ject of inclination. And this is the reason why
custom encreases all active habits, but dimin-
ishes passive, according to the observation of a

Free download pdf