"If any Man hath found out a Kind of Motive which doth not affect himself, he hath made a deeper Investigation into the 'Springs, Weights, and Balances' of the human Heart, than I can pretend to."
— Brown, John (1715-1766)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
C. Davis
Date
1751
Metaphor
"If any Man hath found out a Kind of Motive which doth not affect himself, he hath made a deeper Investigation into the 'Springs, Weights, and Balances' of the human Heart, than I can pretend to."
Metaphor in Context
Therefore setting aside, as much as may be, all ambiguous Expressions, it seems evident, that 'a Motive, from its very Nature, must be something that affects ourself.' If any Man hath found out a Kind of Motive which doth not affect himself, he hath made a deeper Investigation into the 'Springs, Weights, and Balances' of the human Heart, than I can pretend to. Now what can possibly affect ourself, or determine us to Action, but either the Feeling or Prospect of Pleasure or Pain, Happiness or Misery?
(p. 162-3)
(p. 162-3)
Provenance
Reading
Citation
John Brown, Essays on the Characteristics, 2nd ed. (London: C. Davis, 1751)
Date of Entry
07/26/2011
