1398. Those who are in the infernal barrel
There are people who are eager to be more important than others, and want to be first in whatever is going on-longing for this not only in the world, but also that they may be the highest in heaven. This causes a constant rivalry with others for the most prominent place, and while they harbor no open hatred toward their neighbor, yet at the same time there is no charity. These are in the infernal barrel. Yet they are not evil, but live from impulse, for, their ability to reason having been taken away, they can be bent in any direction at will. 1748, 15 March.
1398. WHO THOSE ARE WHO ARE IN THE INFERNAL TUN
There are those who in their lifetime desire to be more important than others, and thus they want to be first in whatever is being done, yea, not only do they eagerly desire to be first in the world, but also to be supreme in heaven. Thus there is continual rivalry with others for super-eminence, and although there is at the same time no open hatred, they, nevertheless, enjoy no charity towards the neighbor. They are in the infernal tun, but still they are not evil. They act from instinct, for having been deprived of rationality, they can be bent in any direction whatsoever. 1748, Mar. 15.
1398. Qui in tonna 1
infernali sunt
Sunt ii, qui potiores aliis in vita cupiunt esse, sic ut primi esse velint, in quocunque actu, imo non solum gestiunt in mundo, sed etiam ut supremi sint in coelo, sic ut aemulatio continua sit cum aliis de supereminentia, et tamen simul non aperto odio, sed usque nulla charitate erga proximum gaudent; ii sunt in tonna infernali, sed ii usque non mali sunt; ex instinctu agunt, nam iis ademta est rationalitas, ita flecti possunt quocunque libet. 1748, 15 Martius.
Footnotes:
1. The Manuscript has tenna vel terrna