JB/015/409/002

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1819
Deontology
Foundation of

§ Power over the thoughts – how to exercise it.

When your wish is to drive or keep any idea out
of your mind do not ap for that purpose apply your attention
to the idea itself, or by that means you do
but fix the idea in so much the faster, and thus counteract
your own intention. Instead of so doing, take up any
other idea that presents itself; or look out for some other
idea the most interesting you can think of and apply
your attention to that. If the idea you wish to be
free from is to a certain degree afflicting, and you
cannot find a pleasant idea to lay hold of and by force
of attention to keep in your mind in this case an
idea even of an unpleasant kind may be of use and
will proportionably be so if it be less afflictive than that
which it is your wish to free yourself from: in this case
the remedy employed is analogous to that which
is employed in the case of a blister. By a pain less intense
or less lasting a pain more intense or more
lasting is thus got rid of. In this

In this way it is for example that the
grief produced by the wrath of a near and dear
relative is instigated by plunging into business:
and if the grief be to a certain degree afflictive
business though in itself would be afflictive such
as trade by which loss is produced or intercourse
productive of altercations and quarrels may still
be of use.

But a condition necessary in this case is, that
the remedial pursuit engaged in in the character
of a remedy should be such as to create a necessary demand
upon you for continuity of attention. For if it
be of such a nature as still to have you at liberty
you will scarcely answer your purpose.
Thus if by way of remedy against the grief produced
by the loss of a friend you betake yourself to
mere reading especially light reading the demand
thereby produced for attention will be apt to be so

Identifier: | JB/015/409/002 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 15.
Date_1		Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	015	Main Headings	deontology
Folio number	409	Info in main headings field
Image	002	Titles
Category	linking material	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	f87
Penner	sir john bowring	Watermarks	john dickinson & c<…> 1813
Marginals		Paper Producer	a. levy
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year	1813
Notes public		ID Number	5625
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