3ad28e.md (2023B)
1 Thus pride is different from partiality, for the 2 latter term is used in reference to an external object, but pride 3 is used of a man thinking too highly of himself. However, as 4 partiality is the effect of love, so is pride the effect or 5 property of self–love, which may therefore be thus defined, love 6 of self or self–approval, in so far as it leads a man to think 7 too highly of himself. To this emotion there is no contrary. 8 For no one thinks too meanly of himself because of self–hatred; 9 I say that no one thinks too meanly of himself, in so far as he 10 conceives that he is incapable of doing this or that. For 11 whatsoever a man imagines that he is incapable of doing, he 12 imagines this of necessity, and by that notion he is so disposed, 13 that he really cannot do that which he conceives that he cannot 14 do. For, so long as he conceives that he cannot do it, so long 15 is he not determined to do it, and consequently so long is it 16 impossible for him to do it. However, if we consider such 17 matters as only depend on opinion, we shall find it conceivable 18 that a man may think too meanly of himself; for it may happen, 19 that a man, sorrowfully regarding his own weakness, should 20 imagine that he is despised by all men, while the rest of the 21 world are thinking of nothing less than of despising him. Again, 22 a man may think too meanly of himself, if he deny of himself in 23 the present something in relation to a future time of which he is 24 uncertain. As, for instance, if he should say that he is unable 25 to form any clear conceptions, or that he can desire and do 26 nothing but what is wicked and base, &c. We may also say, that a 27 man thinks too meanly of himself, when we see him from excessive 28 fear of shame refusing to do things which others, his equals, 29 venture. We can, therefore, set down as a contrary to pride an 30 emotion which I will call self–abasement, for as from 31 self–complacency springs pride, so from humility springs 32 self–abasement, which I will accordingly thus define: 33 34