BOOK II PART II
in the retina, and in the brain or organ of per-
ception. The eyes refract the rays of light, and
the optic nerves convey the images to the brain
in the very same manner, whether a great or
small object has preceded; nor does even the
imagination alter the dimensions of its object
on account of a comparison with others. The
question then is, how from the same impres-
sion and the same idea we can form such dif-
ferent judgments concerning the same object,
and at one time admire its bulk, and at another
despise its littleness. This variation in our judg-
ments must certainly proceed from a variation
in some perception; but as the variation lies not
in the immediate impression or idea of the ob-
ject, it must lie in some other impression, that
accompanies it.
In order to explain this matter, I shall just