"心灵的行为，其中它对简单观念施展其力量，主要有以下三点：1. 将几个简单观念结合成一个复合观念，从而形成所有复杂观念。2. 第二是将两个观念，不管是简单的还是复杂的，放在一起，并列摆放，以便同时查看它们，而不是将它们合并为一个，从而获得所有关系观念。3. 第三是将它们从其真实存在中伴随的所有其他观念中分离出来。这称为抽象，从而形成所有一般观念。"

Our minds have this incredible ability to juggle ideas. Imagine you've got a bunch of Lego bricks, each one a different color and shape. These bricks are like simple ideas. Our mind does three main things with these bricks: it combines them into new creations, compares them side by side, and pulls them apart to see them individually. It’s kind of like mental gymnastics.

First, let’s talk about combining ideas. You take a red brick, a blue brick, and maybe a green one, and you snap them together to build a little house. That’s what your mind does when it combines simple ideas into more complex ones. Think about how you understand the concept of a “car.” It’s not just one idea but a mix of several: wheels, seats, steering wheel, engine, and so on. Each element is simple on its own, but together, they form the complex idea of a car.

Now, onto the next trick: comparing ideas. This is like putting two different Lego creations next to each other to see how they’re similar or different. Your mind can hold these ideas side by side without merging them. For instance, you can compare the idea of a car with the idea of a bike. Both are modes of transportation, but one has four wheels and an engine, while the other has two wheels and is powered by pedaling. By comparing, you get a better understanding of each.

Lastly, there’s the act of separating, or abstraction. Imagine you’ve got a whole Lego city, but you want to focus on just one building. You ignore all the other structures and look at that one building alone. This is what your mind does when it abstracts an idea. Think about the concept of “justice.” You strip away all the specific instances of justice you’ve seen or read about – courtroom dramas, heroic deeds – and focus on the core principle.

Let’s see this in action. Picture a fashion designer. She combines simple ideas like fabric, color, and pattern to create a new outfit (complex idea). When planning her collection, she compares this new outfit with previous designs to ensure it’s unique yet cohesive with her brand. Finally, she abstracts the essence of her style, focusing on what makes her work distinct, ignoring the noise of trends and external influences.

So, how do we apply this to our lives? Start by recognizing when you’re dealing with simple ideas and try combining them in new ways. If you’re brainstorming, don’t just list single ideas – think about how they can interact. When faced with a problem, compare different solutions side by side to see which works best. And when you’re learning something new, try to strip it down to the core concept, abstract it from all the details.

Imagine you’re learning to cook. Start with simple recipes that combine well-known ingredients. As you get better, compare different recipes – how does adding garlic instead of onion change the flavor? And finally, abstract the basic techniques, like sautéing or roasting, so you can apply them to any recipe.

Our minds are pretty amazing, aren’t they? Being aware of how we combine, compare, and abstract ideas can really sharpen our thinking and creativity. Next time you’re stuck, remember those mental Lego bricks. Mix them, match them, and see what incredible creations you can come up with.