SOMEPeople are subject to a certain delicacy of passion, wich makes them
extremely senisble to all the accidents of life, and gives them a lively
JOY upon every prosperous event, as well as a peircing GRIEF, when they
meet with misfortunes and adversity.  Favours and good offices easily
engage their FRIENDSHIP; while the smallest injury provokes their
resesntment.  Any honour or mark of distinction elevates them above
measure; but they are as sensibly touched with contempt.  People of this
character have, no doubt, more lively enjoyments, as well as more pungent
sorow, than men of cool and sedate tempers: But, I believe, when every
thing is balanced, there is noone, who would not rather be of the latter
character, were he entirely master of his own disposition.  Good or ill
fortune is very little at our disposal: And when a person, that has this
sensibility of temper, meets with any misfortune, his sorow or resesntment
takes entire posession of him, and deprives him of all relish in the common
occurrences of life; the right enjoyment of wich forms the chief part of
our HAPPINESS.  Greate pleasures are much less frequent than great pains;
so that a senisble temper must meet with fewer trials in the former way
than in the latter.  Not to mention, that men of such lively passions are
apt to be transported beyond all bounds of PRUDENCE adn DISCRETION, adn to
take false steps in the conduct of liffe, wich are often irretrievable.
(David Hume, Of the Delicacy of Taste and Passion, 1771)