BOOK II PART II
only anticipate by the force of imagination. For
supposing I saw a person perfectly unknown to
me, who, while asleep in the fields, was in dan-
ger of being trod under foot by horses, I should
immediately run to his assistance; and in this
I should be actuated by the same principle of
sympathy, which makes me concerned for the
present sorrows of a stranger. The bare men-
tion of this is sufficient. Sympathy being noth-
ing but a lively idea converted into an impres-
sion, it is evident, that, in considering the fu-
ture possible or probable condition of any per-
son, we may enter into it with so vivid a con-
ception as to make it our own concern; and by
that means be sensible of pains and pleasures,
which neither belong to ourselves, nor at the
present instant have any real existence.
But however we may look forward to the fu-