472 THE PHILOSOPHY 



CHAPTER XIX. 



Of the 'Principle of Imitation, 



IMITATION neceflarlly implies fome degree of 

 intelligence. All animals, particularly thofe of the more per- 

 fect kinds, are endowed with the principle of imitation. The 

 confequence is obvious, that all anipials pofTefs a certain por- 

 tion of intell€(Stual power. In man, the principle of imita- 

 tion appears at a very early period of his exiftence. In the 

 more advanced ftages of life, this principle is fo interwoven, 

 v/ith other motives of adling and thinking, that it is difficult 

 to diftinguifli it as a feparate inftincl, and equally difficult to 

 conquer the habits and prejudices to which it has given rife. 

 The lefs a man has cultivated his rational faculties, the more 

 powerful is the principle of imitation over his adlions and his 

 habits of thinking. Moft women, of courfe, are more in- 

 fluenced by the behaviour, the fafhions, and the opinions of 

 thofe with whom they afTociate than men. From this almoft 

 irreliftible inftinfl, we fhould learn the extreme danger of 

 frequenting the company of the diflblute and unprincipled ; 

 for bad habits are foon acquired, but very difficult to con- 

 quer. It is a comfortable circumftance, hov/ever^ that if men, 

 efpecially when young, are fortunate enough to fall in with 

 the fociety of the virtuous and intelligent, the principle of 

 imitation, fo benevolent is Nature, ads w^ith redoubled force. 

 If we attend to our own feelings, we muO: acknowledge, that, 

 in the acquiHtion of bad habits, there is an evident force up- 

 on our natural inclinations, but that, in virtuous affiDciations, 

 the mind acquiefces with pleafure, and feels no reftraint in 

 complying with the examples it perceives nor in acquiring 

 the correfpondent habits. We are prone to evil , but, whea 



