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Again, the man who is a slave to amusement is commonly thought to

be destitute of Self-Control, but he really is Soft; because

amusement is an act of relaxing, being an act of resting, and the

character in question is one of those who exceed due bounds in

respect of this.

Moreover of Imperfect Self-Control there are two forms,

Precipitancy and Weakness: those who have it in the latter form

though they have made resolutions do not abide by them by reason

of passion; the others are led by passion because they have never

formed any resolutions at all: while there are some who, like

those who by tickling themselves beforehand get rid of

ticklishness, having felt and seen beforehand the approach of

temptation, and roused up themselves and their resolution, yield

not to passion; whether the temptation be somewhat pleasant or

somewhat painful. The Precipitate form of Imperfect Self-Control

they are most liable to who are constitutionally of a sharp or

melancholy temperament: because the one by reason of the

swiftness, the other by reason of the violence, of their

passions, do not wait for Reason, because they are disposed to

follow whatever notion is impressed upon their minds.