BOOK II PART I
relation of ideas, which experience shews to be
so requisite a circumstance to the production
of the passion, would be entirely superfluous,
were it not to second a relation of affections,
and facilitate the transition from one impres-
sion to another. If nature produced immedi-
ately the passion of pride or humility, it would
be compleated in itself, and would require no
farther addition or encrease from any other af-
fection. But supposing the first emotion to be
only related to pride or humility, it is easily
conceived to what purpose the relation of ob-
jects may serve, and how the two different as-
sociations, of impressions and ideas, by uniting
their forces, may assist each other’s operation.
This is not only easily conceived, but I will ven-
ture to affirm it is the only manner, in which we
can conceive this subject. An easy transition of
ideas, which, of itself, causes no emotion, can