318 CONCLUDING REMARKS Chap. XIV. 



there will be a strong and involuntary tendency to the 

 performance of directly opposite actions, whether or not 

 these are of any use, under the excitement of an opposite 

 frame of mind. 



Our third principle is the direct action of the excited 

 nervous system on the body, independently of the will, 

 and independently, in large part, of habit. Experience 

 shows that nerve-force is generated and set free when- 

 ever the cerebro-spinal system is excited. The direction 

 which this nerve-force follows is necessarily determined 

 by the lines of connection between the nerve-cells, with 

 each other and with various parts of the body. But the 

 direction is likewise much influenced by habit; inas- 

 much as nerve-force passes readily along accustomed 

 channels. 



The frantic and senseless actions of an enraged man 

 may be attributed in part to the undirected flow of 

 nerve-force, and in part to the effects of habit, for these 

 actions often vaguely represent the act of striking. 

 They thus pass into gestures included under our first 

 principle; as when an indignant man unconsciously 

 throws' himself into a fitting attitude for attacking his 

 opponent, though without any intention of making an 

 actual attack. We see also the influence of habit in all 

 the emotions and sensations which are called exciting; 

 for thev have assumed this character from having ha- 

 bitually led to energetic action; and action affects, in an 

 indirect manner, the respiratory and circulatory system; 

 and the latter reacts on the brain. Whenever these emo- 

 tions or sensations are even slightly felt by us, though 

 they may not at the time lead to any exertion, our whole 

 system is nevertheless disturbed through the force of 

 habit and association. Other emotions and sensations 

 are called depressing, because they have not habitually 

 led to energetic action, excepting just at first, as in the 



