Propensity

Examples

• Thirdly, Account for that propensity, which this illusion gives, to unite these broken appearances by a continued existence. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
• Love had come, as the rod of the master-prophet, to swallow up every minor propensity. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
• But man's propensity for wearing clothes has led to the invention of every variety of tools for making them faster, cheaper, and better. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
• A strong propensity or inclination alone, without any present impression, will sometimes cause a belief or opinion. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
• She had a curious propensity to call Mrs. Bounderby 'Miss Gradgrind,' and yielded to it some three or four score times in the course of the evening. Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
• Fourthly and lastly, Explain that force and vivacity of conception, which arises from the propensity. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
• The great propensity men have to pride may be considered as another similar phaenomenon. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
• The relation causes a smooth passage from the impression to the idea, and even gives a propensity to that passage. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
• Each faulty propensity in leading him to evil, had led him likewise to punishment. Jane Austen. Sense and Sensibility.
• Amelia seeing this propensity, laughingly encouraged it and looked exceedingly roguish as she administered to him cup after cup. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
• A spare and rare shaft she still reserved for his unfortunate poetic propensity; but even here she would tolerate no irony save her own. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
• Where reason is lively, and mixes itself with some propensity, it ought to be assented to. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
• This propensity gave Mrs. Rouncewell great uneasiness. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
• But the figures had the old obstinate propensity--they WOULD NOT add up. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
• He was a clever man; a pleasant companion; a careless student; with a great propensity for running into debt, and a partiality for the tavern. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
• Hortense and she possessed an exhaustless mutual theme of conversation in the corrupt propensities of servants. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
• They are natives of the southeast of Asia and are remarkable for their pugnacious propensities. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
• He can influence the blood-thirsty war-dogs, while I resist their propensities vainly. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
• What a pigmy intellect she had, and what giant propensities! Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
• But of his minuter propensities, as you call them you have from peculiar circumstances been kept more ignorant than myself. Jane Austen. Sense and Sensibility.
• And Herbert had seen him as a predatory Tartar of comic propensities, with a face like a red brick, and an outrageous hat all over bells. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
• How fearful were the curses those propensities entailed on me! Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
• The merit and demerit of actions frequently contradict, and sometimes controul our natural propensities. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
• Here then the contradiction betwixt the propensities of the imagination and passion displays itself. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
• We build now on his intellectual faculties, we establish our hopes on his moral propensities. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
• Well, propensities and principles must be reconciled by some means. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
• Science represents the safeguard of the race against these natural propensities and the evils which flow from them. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.

Typist: Michael