BOOK II PART I
or connected with us. A beautiful fish in the
ocean, an animal in a desart, and indeed any
thing that neither belongs, nor is related to
us, has no manner of influence on our vanity,
whatever extraordinary qualities it may be en-
dowed with, and whatever degree of surprize
and admiration it may naturally occasion. It
must be some way associated with us in order
to touch our pride. Its idea must hang in a man-
ner, upon that of ourselves and the transition
from the one to the other must be easy and nat-
ural.
But here it is remarkable, that though the re-
lation of resemblance operates upon the mind
in the same manner as contiguity and causa-
tion, in conveying us from one idea to another,
yet it is seldom a foundation either of pride or
of humility. If we resemble a person in any of