BOOK II PART II
though the relations be reciprocal they have
very different effects on the imagination. The
passage is smooth and open from the consid-
eration of any person related to us to that of
ourself, of whom we are every moment con-
scious. But when the affections are once di-
rected to ourself, the fancy passes not with the
same facility from that object to any other per-
son, how closely so ever connected with us.
This easy or difficult transition of the imagi-
nation operates upon the passions, and facili-
tates or retards their transition, which is a clear
proof, that these two faculties of the passions
and imagination are connected together, and
that the relations of ideas have an influence
upon the affections. Besides innumerable ex-
periments that prove this, we here find, that
even when the relation remains; if by any par-
ticular circumstance its usual effect upon the