BOOK II PART II
manner, cause either hatred, or pride, or con-
tempt, according to the light in which we sur-
vey them.
That there is a mixture of pride in contempt,
and of humility in respect, is, I think, too evi-
dent, from their very feeling or appearance, to
require any particular proof. That this mixture
arises from a tacit comparison of the person
contemned or respected with ourselves is no
less evident. The same man may cause either
respect, love, or contempt by his condition and
talents, according as the person, who considers
him, from his inferior becomes his equal or su-
perior. In changing the point of view, though
the object may remain the same, its proportion
to ourselves entirely alters; which is the cause
of an alteration in the passions. These passions,
therefore, arise from our observing the propor-