BOOK II PART II
riches and poverty, happiness and misery, and
other objects of that kind, which are always at-
tended with an evident emotion.
The second principle I shall take notice
of is that of our adherence to general rules;
which has such a mighty influence on the ac-
tions and understanding, and is able to im-
pose on the very senses. When an object is
found by-experience to be always accompa-
nyed with another; whenever the first object
appears, though changed in very material cir-
cumstances; we naturally fly to the conception
of the second, and form an idea of it in as lively
and strong a manner, as if we had infered its
existence by the justest and most authentic con-
clusion of our understanding. Nothing can un-
deceive us, not even our senses, which, instead
of correcting this false judgment, are often per-