BOOK III PART II
regardless of them, as, in any opposition of in-
terest, to give the preference to a stranger, or
mere chance acquaintance. From all which it
follows, that our natural uncultivated ideas of
morality, instead of providing a remedy for the
partiality of our affections, do rather conform
themselves to that partiality, and give it an ad-
ditional force and influence.
The remedy, then, is not derived from na-
ture, but from artifice; or more e properly
speaking, nature provides a remedy in the
judgment and understanding, for what is irreg-
ular and incommodious in the affections. For
when men, from their early education in so-
ciety, have become sensible of the infinite ad-
vantages that result from it, and have besides
acquired a new affection to company and con-
versation; and when they have observed, that