Chap. 13.] 'ike Paffions. 473 



There is fcarcely any fuch thing as a fimple pafilon ^ 

 even thofe which I have here fpecified are generally 

 compounded with each other. Whatever ideas are 

 predominant will determine the bent of the pafiion, 

 much depending on the peculiar tone of the organs at 

 different times. Some paflions more eafily mix than 

 others. 



Paffions naturally terminate, when their end is ac- 

 complifhed. This, however, does not happen in all 

 caies. It was remarked, that an impreflion, as it is 

 more vivid, remains proportionably longer on the or- 

 gan of fenfe ; all the component fimple parts of it arc 

 more ftrongly imprefied, and it is afTociated with a 

 greater number of ideas, Impreffions accompanied 

 with pain or pleafure are more vivid in proportion to 

 the degrees of pain or pleafure, and fuch we mud re- 

 member are all paflions. Thefe impreflions and ideas 

 are of courfe more vivid than any others, of courfe 

 affociated with a greater number of ideas, all of which 

 will ferve to recall thern, and thus a pafiion becomes the 

 caufe of its own continuance, and by this means in- 

 fluences our train of thinking. 



From what has been ftated it appears, that paflions 

 are transferable from one object to another. An idea 

 being often repeated with an idea which we love, and 

 which of courfe gives'" u,s pleafure, we come at laft to 

 love the idea which was at firft indifferent. What is 

 more common than to love the children of thofe whom 

 we efteem, and that for no merit p.r beauty in the 

 children themfelves ? In parental love, the paflion is 

 in part transferred from feif to the offspring. The 

 mother, during her pregnancy, connects the idea of 

 the infant in her womb with a number of agreeable 

 ideas, with pleafure and with hope ; hence maternal 

 love is ftronger at firfl than paternal. The idea of 



duty, 



