'To increase the care in creatures to preserve themselves, Mature has given them an instinct, by which _every individual values itself above its real worth_.' The more mettlesome and spirited animals (_e.g._, horses) are endowed with this instinct.
In us, it is accompanied with an apprehension that we do overvalue ourselves; hence our susceptibility to the confirmatory good opinion of others.

But if each were to display openly his own feeling of superiority, quarrels would inevitably arise.

The grand discovery whereby the ill consequences of this passion are avoided is _politeness_.

'Good manners consists in flattering the pride of others, and concealing our own.' The first step is to conceal our good opinion of ourselves; the next is more impudent, namely, to pretend that we value others more highly than ourselves.

But it takes a long time to come to that pitch; the Romans were almost masters of the world before they learned politeness.
3.