[The Ethics by Benedict de Spinoza]@TWC D-Link book
The Ethics

PART III
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Spinoza transposes the verses.
"Speremus pariter, pariter metuamus amantes; Ferreus est, si quis, quod sinit alter, amat." Note .-- This endeavour to bring it about, that our own likes and dislikes should meet with universal approval, is really ambition (see III.xxix.

note); wherefore we see that everyone by nature desires (appetere), that the rest of mankind should live according to his own individual disposition: when such a desire is equally present in all, everyone stands in everyone else's way, and in wishing to be loved or praised by all, all become mutually hateful.
PROP.XXXII.

If we conceive that anyone takes delight in something, which only one person can possess, we shall endeavour to bring it about that the man in question shall not gain possession thereof.
Proof .-- From the mere fact of our conceiving that another person takes delight in a thing (III.xxvii.and Coroll.) we shall ourselves love that thing and desire to take delight therein.

But we assumed that the pleasure in question would be prevented by another's delight in its object; we shall, therefore, endeavour to prevent his possession thereof (III.
xxviii.).

Q.E.D.
Note .-- We thus see that man's nature is generally so constituted, that he takes pity on those who fare ill, and envies those who fare well with an amount of hatred proportioned to his own love for the goods in their possession.


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