among the ancient philosophers, implied an utter privation of passion, and an insensibility of pain. The word is compounded of priv. and affectio, affection. The Stoics affected an entire apathy; they considered it as the highest wisdom to enjoy a perfect calmness or tranquillity of mind, incapable of being ruffled by either pleasure or pain. In the first ages of the church, the Christians adopted the term apathy, to express a contempt of all earthly concerns; a state of mortification, such as the gospel prescribes. Clemens Alexandrinus, in particular, brought it exceedingly in vogue; thinking hereby to draw the philosophers to Christianity, who aspired after such a sublime pitch of virtue. Quietism is only apathy disguised under the appearance of devotion.