Pagina 412 di 734

Well then, it is clear that Imperfect Self-Control in respect of

Lusts is more disgraceful than that in respect of Anger, and that

the object-matter of Self-Control, and the Imperfection of it,

are bodily Lusts and pleasures; but of these last we must take

into account the differences; for, as was said at the

commencement, some are proper to the human race and natural both

in kind and degree, others Brutish, and others caused by maimings

and diseases.

Now the first of these only are the object-matter of Perfected

Self-Mastery and utter absence of Self-Control; and therefore we

never attribute either of these states to Brutes (except

metaphorically, and whenever any one kind of animal differs

entirely from another in insolence, mischievousness, or

voracity), because they have not moral choice or process of

deliberation, but are quite different from that kind of creature

just as are madmen from other men.