A Treatise of Human Nature - Volume 2

SECTION II.

Of pride and humility; their objects and causes.

SECTION II.

The passions of PRIDE and HUMILITY being simple and uniform impressions, it is impossible that we can ever, by a multitude of words, give a precise definition of them, or indeed of any of the passions. The most we can attempt is a description of them by listing the circumstances that accompany them. However, because these words, pride and humility, are in general use, and the feelings they represent are among the most common of all, everyone will be able to form a correct idea of them on their own without any danger of mistake. For this reason, rather than losing time on introductory matters, I shall immediately begin the examination of these passions.

It is evident that pride and humility, though directly opposite, nevertheless have the same OBJECT. This object is the self, or that succession of related ideas and impressions of which we have an intimate memory and consciousness. This is where the mind's view always settles when The text ends mid-sentence; the catchword "we" indicates the next page continues the thought regarding how we perceive ourselves through these passions.