BOOK II PART II
SECTIONVIII. OFNALICE ANDENVY
We must now proceed to account for the pas-
sion of malice, which imitates the effects of ha-
tred, as pity does those of love; and gives us
a joy in the sufferings and miseries of others,
without any offence or injury on their part.
So little are men governed by reason in
their sentiments and opinions, that they always
judge more of objects by comparison than from
their intrinsic worth and value. When the mind
considers, or is accustomed to, any degree of
perfection, whatever falls short of it, though re-
ally esteemable, has notwithstanding the same
effect upon the passions; as what is defective
and ill. This is an original quality of the soul,
and similar to what we have every day expe-
rience of in our bodies. Let a man heat one