A Treatise of Human Nature

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BOOK I PART III


so inconsiderable, and that the far greatest part
of our reasonings with all our actions and pas-
sions, can be derived from nothing but custom
and habit. To obviate this objection, I shall here
anticipate a little what would more properly
fall under our consideration afterwards, when
we come to treat of the passions and the sense
of beauty.


There is implanted in the human mind a per-
ception of pain and pleasure, as the chief spring
and moving principle of all its actions. But
pain and pleasure have two ways of making
their appearance in the mind; of which the one
has effects very different from the other. They
may either appear in impression to the actual
feeling, or only in idea, as at present when I
mention them. It is evident the influence of
these upon our actions is far from being equal.

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