BOOK III PART III
demned by all mankind; as having a natu-
ral tendency to cause uneasiness in others by
means of comparison. And this effect must fol-
low the more naturally, that those, who have
an ill-grounded conceit of themselves, are for
ever making those comparisons, nor have they
any other method of supporting their vanity. A
man of sense and merit is pleased with himself,
independent of all foreign considerations: But
a fool must always find some person, that is
more foolish, in order to keep himself in good
humour with his own parts and understand-
ing.
But though an over-weaning conceit of our
own merit be vicious and disagreeable, nothing
can be more laudable, than to have a value for
ourselves, where we really have qualities that
are valuable. The utility and advantage of any