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Well now, we have stated generally respecting the Moral Virtues,

the genus (in outline), that they are mean states, and that they

are habits, and how they are formed, and that they are of

themselves calculated to act upon the circumstances out of which

they were formed, and that they are in our own power and

voluntary, and are to be done so as right Reason may direct.

But the particular actions and the habits are not voluntary in

the same sense; for of the actions we are masters from beginning

to end (supposing of course a knowledge of the particular

details), but only of the origination of the habits, the addition

by small particular accessions not being cognisiable (as is the

case with sicknesses): still they are voluntary because it rested

with us to use our circumstances this way or that.

Chapter IX.