328 THE LAWS OF ORGANIC 



mode of action ; and therefore the simplicity of 

 material arguments becomes complex as soon as 

 it presumes to explain the grounds of its own 

 existence. 



CCCLXXX. Passion, by which term I mean 

 every violent perturbation of the mind, has its 

 origin undoubtedly in the brain. Different phy- 

 siologists have given it different seats ; by some 

 it is imagined to reside in the above-mentioned 

 organ, by others in the ganglia of the sympa- 

 thetic nerve, by BICHAT, and many distin- 

 guished individuals, in the viscera of the body. 

 Passion may be considered a part of the mind, 

 and is as essential for the continuance and regu- 

 larity of every function of the system as the in- 

 tellectual qualities themselves. 



CCCLXXXI. We are so constituted by na- 

 ture, that our feelings and mental powers reci- 

 procally act on each other. Reflection, as it un- 

 folds the baseness of those who possessed our 

 confidence, excites our various passions, and 

 in how many instances do the latter give energy 

 to the desponding exertions of the former ! 



The intimate connexion between these oppo- 

 site states of the mind, strengthens the opinion 

 that they both possess the same general organ, 

 or at least one formed of similar materials. 



CCCLXXXII. We have not only proofs in 

 support of this supposition in the observations 

 of their ordinary actions, but we arrive almost at 



