But we may farther observe, that this satisfaction encreases, when any
good approaches in such a manner that it is in one's own power to take
or leave it, and there neither is any physical impediment, nor any
very strong motive to hinder our enjoyment. As all men desire pleasure,
nothing can be more probable, than its existence when there is no
external obstacle to the producing it, and men perceive no danger in
following their inclinations. In that case their imagination easily
anticipates the satisfaction, and conveys the same joy, as if they were
persuaded of its real and actual existence.
But this accounts not sufficiently for the satisfaction, which attends
riches. A miser receives delight from his money; that is, from the
power it affords him of procuring all the pleasures and conveniences of
life, though he knows he has enjoyed his riches for forty years without
ever employing them; and consequently cannot conclude by any species of
reasoning, that the real existence of these pleasures is nearer, than
if he were entirely deprived of all his possessions. But though he
cannot form any such conclusion in a way of reasoning concerning the
nearer approach of the pleasure, it is certain he imagines it to
approach nearer, whenever all external obstacles are removed, along
with the more powerful motives of interest and danger, which oppose it.
For farther satisfaction on this head I must refer to my account of the
will, where I shall[5] explain that false sensation of liberty, which
makes us imagine we can perform any thing, that is not very dangerous
or destructive. Whenever any other person is under no strong
obligations of interest to forbear any pleasure, we judge from
experience, that the pleasure will exist, and that he will probably
obtain it. But when ourselves are in that situation, we judge from an
illusion of the fancy, that the pleasure is still closer and more
immediate. The will seems to move easily every way, and casts a shadow
or image of itself, even to that side, on which it did not settle. By
means of this image the enjoyment seems to approach nearer to us, and
gives us the same lively satisfaction, as if it were perfectly certain
and unavoidable.
[5] Part III. Sect. 2.