ANTAGONISM OF IMPULSES 173 



the training of the reason and will, and the ac- 

 quirement of useful habits, or is devoted to the 

 memorizing of symbolic knowledge. The imita- 

 tive faculty is powerfully assisted by self-con- 

 sciousness : this enables us to see ourselves and 

 compare ourselves with others, and the impression 

 which we gather may be a most efficient incentive 

 to improvement or reform. Habits of mind now 

 prevalent appear to be reinforcing the faculty of 

 self-consciousness : its influence has extended 

 very materially during recent centuries, especially 

 amongst the peoples of Northern Europe and 

 America. This reflection will assist us in ex- 

 plaining the acceleration of progress which is 

 undoubtedly to be seen during the period of 

 modern history. 



SJSISE - i'Sill 



Perhaps the most striking fact which has been 

 brought out by these analyses is the antagonistic 

 duality of our instinctive impulses : it is almost 

 incredibly strange, but it seems to be true, that 

 we live under the influence of contraries. We are 

 urged towards change : variety pleases us, 

 monotony fatigues us. But we have also a long- 

 ing to repeat our mental and bodily experiences, 

 and, if we give way to it, we become bond slaves 

 of custom. We are impelled to look solely to 

 ourselves, but also to neglect ourselves for the 

 benefit of others : blindly to devote ourselves to 

 the propagation of our kind, with foresight and 

 industry to make the most of Life's practical 

 opportunities. We are naturally cruel, and also 

 naturally kind. We are endowed with aesthetic 

 appreciations which are heightened by self- 

 abandonment : we are also endowed with ethical 

 aspirations of which the ground note is self- 

 control. Our vital organs are controlled by forces 



