3p55c1sc.md (1949B)
1 This pain, accompanied by the idea of our own weakness, 2 is called humility; the pleasure, which springs from the 3 contemplation of ourselves, is called self–love or 4 self–complacency. And inasmuch as this feeling is renewed as 5 often as a man contemplates his own virtues, or his own power of 6 activity, it follows that everyone is fond of narrating his own 7 exploits, and displaying the force both of his body and mind, and 8 also that, for this reason, men are troublesome to one another. 9 Again, it follows that men are naturally envious (III. xxiv. 10 note, and III. xxxii. note), rejoicing in the shortcomings of 11 their equals, and feeling pain at their virtues. For whenever a 12 man conceives his own actions, he is affected with pleasure (III. 13 liii.), in proportion as his actions display more perfection, and 14 he conceives them more distinctly–that is (II. xl. note), in 15 proportion as he can distinguish them from others, and regard 16 them as something special. Therefore, a man will take most 17 pleasure in contemplating himself, when he contemplates some 18 quality which he denies to others. But, if that which he affirms 19 of himself be attributable to the idea of man or animals in 20 general, he will not be so greatly pleased: he will, on the 21 contrary, feel pain, if he conceives that his own actions fall 22 short when compared with those of others. This pain (III. 23 xxviii.) he will endeavour to remove, by putting a wrong 24 construction on the actions of his equals, or by, as far as he 25 can, embellishing his own. 26 27 It is thus apparent that men are naturally prone to hatred 28 and envy, which latter is fostered by their education. For 29 parents are accustomed to incite their children to virtue solely 30 by the spur of honour and envy. But, perhaps, some will scruple 31 to assent to what I have said, because we not seldom admire men's 32 virtues, and venerate their possessors. In order to remove such 33 doubts, I append the following corollary. 34 35