BOOK II PART II
ment he deserves, the idea of it is magnifyed by
a comparison with his present ease and satis-
faction; which forces him, in a manner, to seek
uneasiness, in order to avoid so disagreeable a
contrast.
This reasoning will account for the origin of
envy as well as of malice. The only difference
betwixt these passions lies in this, that envy is
excited by some present enjoyment of another,
which by comparison diminishes our idea of
our own: Whereas malice is the unprovoked
desire of producing evil to another, in order to
reap a pleasure from the comparison. The en-
joyment, which is the object of envy, is com-
monly superior to our own. A superiority nat-
urally seems to overshade us, and presents a
disagreeable comparison. But even in the case
of an inferiority, we still desire a greater dis-