| What we call strength of mind, implies the prevalence of the calm passions above the violent; though we may easily observe, there is no man so constantly possessed of this virtue, as never on any occasion to yield to the sollicitations of passion and desire. |
| From these variations of temper proceeds the great difficulty of deciding concerning the actions and resolutions of men, where there is any contrariety of motives and passions. |
| SECT. IV OF THE CAUSES OF THE VIOLENT PASSIONS |
| There is not-in philosophy a subject of more nice speculation than this of the different causes and effects of the calm and violent passions. |
| It is evident passions influence not the will in proportion to their violence, or the disorder they occasion in the temper; but on the contrary, that when a passion has once become a settled principle of action, and is the predominant inclination of the soul, it commonly produces no longer any sensible agitation. |
| As repeated custom and its own force have made every thing yield to it, it directs the actions and conduct without that opposition and emotion, which so naturally attend every momentary gust of passion. |
| We must, therefore, distinguish betwixt a calm and a weak passion; betwixt a violent and a strong one. |
| But notwithstanding this, it is certain, that when we would govern a man, and push him to any action, it will commonly be better policy to work upon the violent than the calm passions, and rather take him by his inclination, than what is vulgarly called his reason. |
| We ought to place the object in such particular situations as are proper to encrease the violence of the passion. |
| For we may observe, that all depends upon the situation of the object, and that a variation in this particular will be able to change the calm and the violent passions into each other. |
| Both these kinds of passions pursue good, and avoid evil; and both of them are encreased or diminished by the encrease or diminution of the good or evil. |
| But herein lies the difference betwixt them: The same good, when near, will cause a violent passion, which, when remote, produces only a calm one. |
| As this subject belongs very properly to the present question concerning the will, we shall here examine it to the bottom, and shall consider some of those circumstances and situations of objects, which render a passion either calm or violent. |
| It is a remarkable property of human nature, that any emotion, which attends a passion, is easily converted into it, though in their natures they be originally different from, and even contrary to each other. |
| It is true; in order to make a perfect union among passions, there is always required a double relation of impressions and ideas; nor is one relation sufficient for that purpose. |
| But though this be confirmed by undoubted experience, we must understand it with its proper limitations, and must regard the double relation, as requisite only to make one passion produce another. |
| When two passions are already produced by their separate causes, and are both present in the mind, they readily mingle and unite, though they have but one relation, and sometimes without any. |
| The predominant passion swallows up the inferior, and converts it into itself. |
| The spirits, when once excited, easily receive a change in their direction; and it is natural to imagine this change will come from the prevailing affection. |
| The connexion is in many respects closer betwixt any two passions, than betwixt any passion and indifference. |
| When a person is once heartily in love, the little faults and caprices of his mistress, the jealousies and quarrels, to which that commerce is so subject; however unpleasant and related to anger and hatred; are yet found to give additional force to the prevailing passion. |