BOOK II PART II
tance, in order to augment, still more the idea
of ourself. When this distance diminishes, the
comparison is less to our advantage; and con-
sequently gives us less pleasure, and is even
disagreeable. Hence arises that species of envy,
which men feel, when they perceive their in-
feriors approaching or overtaking them in the
pursuits of glory or happiness. In this envy
we may see the effects of comparison twice re-
peated. A man, who compares himself to his
inferior, receives a pleasure from the compar-
ison: And when the inferiority decreases by
the elevation of the inferior, what should only
have been a decrease of pleasure, becomes a
real pain, by a new comparison with its pre-
ceding condition.
It is worthy of observation concerning that
envy, which arises from a superiority in oth-