THE INNER FEELING :>,37 



affected by the different manifestations of sensibility. But in reality 

 moral sensibility is nothing more than a very delicate susceptibility 

 to emotion, which is aroused in the inner feeling of certain individuals 

 on the sudden presentation of suitable ideas and thoughts. These 

 individuals are then said to be highly sensitive. 



This sensibility, when developed to the extent attainable to a 

 perfected intellect, appears to me a product and even a benefaction 

 of nature. It then forms one of the finest qualities of man, for it is 

 the source of humanity, kindness, friendship, honour, etc. Sometimes, 

 however, circumstances make this quality almost as baneful to our- 

 selves as its presence in others is beneficial : in order to derive from it 

 the benefits without the disadvantages, we simply have to moderate 

 its transports by methods which nothing but a good education can 

 indicate. 



A good education shows us the necessity on innumerable occasions 

 for repressing our sensibility up to a certain point, in order not to fall 

 short in the respect which man in society owes to his fellows, as also 

 to the age, sex, and rank of those with whom he consorts : hence result 

 that decorum and amenity in the expressions used in conversation, 

 in short, that careful restraint in the expression of ideas which gives 

 pleasure without ever wounding, and confers a quality of high 

 distinction to those that possess it. 



Up to this point our conquests can only turn to the general advantage. 

 But the limits are sometimes passed ; and we abuse the power, given 

 us by nature, of stifling to some extent the finest of the faculties that 

 we draw from her. 



Indeed, many men possess certain propensities which lead them 

 constantly to resort to dissimulation ; it has become necessary for them 

 habitually to restrain the emotions of their inner feeling, and carefully 

 to hide their thoughts and such of their actions as may lead to the end 

 they have in view. 



Now since every faculty, that is not used, gradually degenerates 

 until it almost becomes extinct, the moral sensibility which we are 

 here discussing is almost absent in them ; and they do not even 

 esteem it in persons who still possess it in a moderate degree. 



Just as physical sensibility is only brought about by sensations 

 which, when they give birth to some need, immediately produce an 

 emotion in the inner feeling and thus drive the nervous fluid to the 

 muscles which have to act ; so too moral sensibility is only brought 

 about by the emotions which thought produces in this inner feeling ; 

 and when the will, which is an intellectual act, determines some 

 action the feeling aroused by that act guides the nervous fluid towards 

 the suitable muscles. 



