Chap. 13.] Ambition. 47^ 



tempt in many cafes j and in obtaining the ple.afures 

 of friendfhip, religion, &c. 3d!y, By the eager purfuic 

 of anyparticular end, as learning, fame, &c*." We 

 may obferve, that avarice is only the pafiion of -little 

 minds, and will be chiefly predominant in uncultivated 

 . perfoos, whofe attention cannot be drawn from it by 

 nobler purfuits; and in old people, whofe fenfual 

 paflions are decayed. 



Ambition feems to be founded, ift, On the hatred 

 or averfion to poverty, and all its concomitant difad- 

 vantages and inconveniencies. sdly, On the experi- 

 ence that we are indebted to our fellow-creatures for 

 many conveniencies of lit* j and from the habit -gerae- 

 rated even in children, of endeavouring to pleafe them, 

 in order to obtain many objects of pleaiure to our 

 fenfes. 3dly, Many of the conftituents of natural and 

 artificial beauty are poflefled by thofe in high ftations, 

 we therefore annex pleafurable ideas to thofe ftations, 

 and love them on that account. 4thly, Cuftom, and 

 the words ufual in commendation, being applied to 

 fuch perfons, increafe the pafiion. 



Ambition will take a different courfe, according to 

 the difpofition or caft of thinking in different perfons. 

 Thus if a man is habitually fenfual, his ambition will 

 ftill have an inclination towards what may gratify his 

 appetites. One man, -perhaps, from education or ex- 

 ample, has acquired a habit of admiring fine cloaths ; 

 another, from natural timidity, avoids fhame and po- 

 verty. Commonwealths promote ambition of a dif- 

 ferent kind from that which is prevalent in monarchy. 

 Ambition takes a different courfe, according to the 

 time of life. It is to be remarked, that the primary 

 conftituents of this paUion (as indeed in all others) 

 will be obfcured fometimes by the aflbciated affections. 



f Hartley, prop. 48. 



The 



