28. What volition and action mean.
Secondly, we must remember, that volition or willing is an act of the mind
directing its thought to the production of any action, and thereby exerting its power to produce it. To avoid
multiplying of words, I would crave leave here, under the word action, to comprehend the forbearance too of any
action proposed: sitting still, or holding one's peace, when walking or speaking are proposed, though mere
forbearances, requiring as much the determination of the will, and being as often weighty in their consequences,
as the contrary actions, may, on that consideration, well enough pass for actions too: but this I say, that I may not
be mistaken, if (for brevity's sake) I speak thus.
