BOOK II PART II
the passions. Suppose two objects to be pre-
sented to me, which are not connected by any
kind of relation. Suppose that each of these ob-
jects separately produces a passion; and that
these two passions are in themselves contrary:
We find from experience, that the want of rela-
tion in the objects or ideas hinders the natural
contrariety of the passions, and that the break
in the transition of the thought removes the
affections from each other, and prevents their
opposition. It is the same case with compari-
son; and from both these phaenomena we may
safely conclude, that the relation of ideas must
forward the transition of impressions; since its
absence alone is able to prevent it, and to sepa-
rate what naturally should have operated upon
each other. When the absence of an object or
quality re moves any usual or natural effect, we
may certalnly conclude that its presence con-