T 3.3.2.10
SBN 597-8 · cited directly by 1 paper, reached by 2 more through page or section ranges
Thus self-satisfaction and vanity may not only be allowable, but requisite in a character. 'Tis, however, certain, that good-breeding and decency require that we shou'd avoid all signs and expressions, which tend directly to show that passion. We have, all of us, a wonderful partiality for ourselves, and were we always to give vent to our sentiments in this particular, we shou'd mutually cause the greatest indignation in each other, not only by the immediate presence of so disagreeable a subject of comparison, but also by the contrariety of our judgments. In like manner, therefore, as we establish the laws of nature, in order to secure property in society, and prevent the opposition of self-interest; we establish the rules of good-breeding, in order to prevent the opposition of men's pride, and render conversation agreeable and inoffensive. Nothing is more disagreeable than a man's over-weaning conceit of himself: Every one almost has a strong propensity to this vice: No one can well distinguish |in himself betwixt the vice and virtue, or be certain, that his esteem of his own merit is well-founded: For these reasons, all direct expressions of this passion are condemn'd; nor do we make any exception to this rule in favour of men of sense and merit. They are not allow'd to do themselves justice openly, in words, no more than other people; and even if they show a reserve and secret doubt in doing themselves justice in their own thoughts, they will be more applauded. That impertinent, and almost universal propensity of men, to over-value themselves, has given us such a prejudice against self-applause, that we are apt to condemn it, by a general rule, wherever we meet with it; and 'tis with some difficulty we give a privilege to men of sense, even in their most secret thoughts. At least, it must be own'd, that some disguise in this particular is absolutely requisite; and that if we harbour pride in our breasts, we must carry a fair outside, and have the appearance of modesty and mutual deference in all our conduct and behaviour. We must, on every occasion, be ready to prefer others to ourselves; to treat them with a kind of deference, even tho' they be our equals; to seem always the lowest and least in the company, where we are not very much distinguish'd above them: And if we observe these rules in our conduct, men will have more indulgence for our secret sentiments, when we discover them in an oblique manner.
Who cites it
1 of 3 papers cite this paragraph directly; the rest reach it through a page or section range. Snippets are the words around each citation.
| Paper | Cited as | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Ainslie 2003 | T 3.3.2.10 this paragraph Citation pattern | …ualities, 'everyone has a strong propensity' to have 'an over-weaning conceit of himself (T 3.3.2.10, SBN 597). Moreover… |
| T 3.3.2.10 this paragraph Citation pattern | …s towards herself can cause us to feel inadequate. And thus the 'rules of good-breeding' (T 3.3.2.10, SBN 597) require u… | |
| Spector 1998 | 3.3.2 T 3.3.2 (21 paragraphs) Citation pattern | …Fiction of Self......................................................................123 3.3.2 Skepticism Unleashe… |
| 3.3.2 T 3.3.2 (21 paragraphs) Citation pattern | … tie up our "bundles." (See Annette Baier, "On Heaps and Bundles" op. cit.) 663.2.1. ## 3.3.2 Skepticism Unleashe… | |
| Greco 2015 | T 3.3.2 T 3.3.2 (21 paragraphs) Citation pattern | …cts of each other's moral evaluations, thanks to the principle of sympathy (see T 2.1.11; T 3.3.2). In this case, we … |