more on this theme | more from this thinker | more from this text
Full Idea
An emotion depends on an estimation of our own power. If a lover is jealous they welcome confrontation, but if they are just envious they assume impotence from the start.
Gist of Idea
Which emotions we feel depends on our sense of our own powers
Source
Robert C. Solomon (The Passions [1976], 7.12)
Book Ref
Solomon,Robert C.: 'The Passions (1993 ed)' [Hackett 1993], p.221
A Reaction
This seems particularly true of politics, where the possibility (or not) of influencing events makes a huge difference. We can picture a huge variety of emotions when a fight breaks out in public.