BOOK III PART III
teem it more. We know, that an alteration of
fortune may render the benevolent disposition
entirely impotent; and therefore we separate,
as much as possible, the fortune from the dis-
position. The case is the same, as when we cor-
rect the different sentiments of virtue, which
proceed from its different distances from our-
selves. The passions do not always follow our
corrections; but these corrections serve suffi-
ciently to regulate our abstract notions, and are
alone regarded, when we pronounce in general
concerning the degrees of vice and virtue.
It is observed by critics, that all words or sen-
tences, which are difficult to the pronunciation,
are disagreeable to the ear. There is no differ-
ence, whether a man hear them pronounced, or
read them silently to himself. When I run over
a book with my eye, I Imagine I hear it all; and