Page:The ethics of Hobbes (IA ethicsofhobbes00hobb).pdf/112

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OF MAN.

the name of a "good wit"; though the same word "wit," be used also, to distinguish one certain ability from the rest.

These "virtues" are of two sorts; "natural," and "acquired." By natural, I mean not, that which a man hath from his birth: for that is nothing else but sense; wherein men differ so little one from another, and from brute beasts, as it is not to be reckoned amongst virtues. But I mean, that "wit," which is gotten by use only, and experience; without method, culture, or instruction. This "natural wit," consisteth principally in two things; "celerity of imagining," that is, swift succession of one thought to another; and steady direction to some approved end. On the contrary a slow imagination, maketh that defect, or fault of the mind, which is commonly called "dulness," "stupidity," and sometimes by other names that signify slowness of motion, or difficulty to be moved.

And this difference of quickness, is caused by the difference of men's passions; that love and dislike, some one thing, some another: and therefore some men's thoughts run one way, some another; and are held to, and observe differently the things that pass through their imagination. And whereas in this succession of men's thoughts, there is nothing to observe in the things they think on, but either in what they be "like one another," or in what they be "unlike," or "what they serve for," or "how they serve to such a purpose"; those that observe their similitudes, in case they be such as are but rarely observed by others, are said to have a "good wit"; by which, in this occasion, is meant a "good fancy." But they that observe their differences, and dissimilitudes; which is called "distinguishing," and "discerning," and "judging" between thing and thing; in case, such discerning be not easy, are said to have a "good judgment": and particularly in matter of conversation and business; wherein, times, places, and persons are to be discerned, this virtue is called "discretion." The

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