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For if the difference proceeded from the temper of the brain,
and the organs of Sense, either exterior or interior, there would be
no lesse difference of men in their Sight, Hearing, or other Senses,
than in their Fancies, and Discretions. It proceeds therefore
from the Passions; which are different, not onely from the
difference of mens complexions; but also from their difference
of customes, and education.
The Passions that most of all cause the differences of Wit,
are principally, the more or lesse Desire of Power, of Riches,
of Knowledge, and of Honour. All which may be reduced to the first,
that is Desire of Power. For Riches, Knowledge and Honour are but
severall sorts of Power.
Giddinesse Madnesse
And therefore, a man who has no great Passion for any of these things;
but is as men terme it indifferent; though he may be so farre a good man,
as to be free from giving offence; yet he cannot possibly have either
a great Fancy, or much Judgement. For the Thoughts, are to the Desires,
as Scouts, and Spies, to range abroad, and find the way to the
things Desired: All Stedinesse of the minds motion, and all quicknesse
of the same, proceeding from thence. For as to have no Desire,
is to be Dead: so to have weak Passions, is Dulnesse; and to have
Passions indifferently for every thing, GIDDINESSE, and Distraction;
and to have stronger, and more vehement Passions for any thing,
than is ordinarily seen in others, is that which men call MADNESSE.
Whereof there be almost as many kinds, as of the Passions themselves.
Sometimes the extraordinary and extravagant Passion, proceedeth from
the evill constitution of the organs of the Body, or harme done them;
and sometimes the hurt, and indisposition of the Organs, is caused by
the vehemence, or long continuance of the Passion. But in both cases
the Madnesse is of one and the same nature.
The Passion, whose violence, or continuance maketh Madnesse,
is either great Vaine-Glory; which is commonly called Pride,
and Selfe-Conceipt; or great Dejection of mind.
Rage
Pride, subjecteth a man to Anger, the excesse whereof, is the Madnesse
called RAGE, and FURY. And thus it comes to passe that excessive
desire of Revenge, when it becomes habituall, hurteth the organs,
and becomes Rage: That excessive love, with jealousie, becomes also Rage:
Excessive opinion of a mans own selfe, for divine inspiration,
for wisdome, learning, forme, and the like, becomes Distraction,
and Giddinesse: the same, joyned with Envy, Rage: Vehement opinion
of the truth of any thing, contradicted by others, Rage.
Melancholy
Dejection, subjects a man to causelesse fears; which is a Madnesse
commonly called MELANCHOLY, apparent also in divers manners;
as in haunting of solitudes, and graves; in superstitious behaviour;
and in fearing some one, some another particular thing. In summe,
all Passions that produce strange and unusuall behaviour, are called
by the generall name of Madnesse. But of the severall kinds of Madnesse,
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