work_id,theme,provenance,created_at,text,reviewed_on,id,comments,metaphor,dictionary,updated_at,context
4040,"","Searching ""brain"" and ""impression"" in HDIS (Prose); found again in C-H Lion",2005-05-18 00:00:00 UTC,"One of the Things an Author ought first of all to take Care of, is to keep up to the Characters of the Persons he introduces. The Authors of Romances gave Extraordinary Virtues to their Heroins, exempted from all the Weakness of Humane Nature, and much above the Infirmities of their Sex; 'tis Necessary they shou'd be Virtuous or Vicious to Merit the Esteem or Disesteem of the Reader; but their Virtue ought to be spared, and their Vice exposed to every Trial: It wou'd in no wise be probable that a Young Woman fondly beloved by a Man of great Merit, and for whom she had Reciprocal Tenderness, finding her self at all Times alone with him in Places which favour'd their Loves, cou'd always resist his Addresses; there are too Nice Occasions; and an Author wou'd not enough observe good Sense, if he therein exposed his Heroins; 'tis a Fault which Authors of Romances commit in every Page; they would Blind the Reader with this Miracle, but 'tis necessary the Miracle shou'd be feisable, to make an Impression in the Brain of Reasonable Persons; the Characters are better managed in the Historical Novels, which are writ now-a-days; they are not fill'd with great Adventures, and extraordinary Accidents, for the most simple Action may engage the Reader by the Circumstances that attend it; it enters into all the Motions and Disquiets of the Actor, when they have well express'd to him the Character. If he be Jealous, the Look of a Person he Loves, a Mouse, a turn of the Head, or the least Complaisance to a Rival, throws him into the greatest Agitations, which the Readers perceive by a Counter-blow; if he be very Vertuous, and fals into a Mischance by Accident, they Pity him, and Commiserate his Misfortune; for Fear, and Pity in Romance as well as Tragedies are the Two Instruments which move the Passion; for we in some Manner put our selves in the Room of those we see in Danger; the Part we take therein, and the fear of falling into the like Misfortunes, causes us to interest our selves more in their Adventures, because that those sort of Accidents may happen to all the World; and it touches so much the more, because they are the Common Effects of Nature.",,10466,"","""'Tis a Fault which Authors of Romances commit in every Page; they would Blind the Reader with this Miracle, but 'tis necessary the Miracle shou'd be feisable, to make an Impression in the Brain of Reasonable Persons.""",Impressions,2013-06-21 15:41:47 UTC,"Part I, Preface"
7447,"","",2013-06-17 15:53:18 UTC,"This degree, which I have already mention'd, (and which perhaps I should never have had any taste of, if your request had not put me upon a farther search) is the very same thing which Avicenna means, where he says; Then when a Man's desires are raised to a good pitch, and he is competently well exercised in that way, there will appear to him some small glimmerings of the Truth, as it were flashes of Lightning, very delightful, which just shine upon him, and then go out; Then the more he exercises himself, the oftner he'll perceive 'em, till at last he'll become so well acquainted with them, that they will occur to him spontaneously, without any exercise at all; and then, as soon as he perceives any thing, he applies himself to the Divine Essence, so as to retain some impression of it; then something occurs, to him on a sudden, whereby he begins to discern the Truth in every thing; till, through frequent exercise, he at last attains to a perfect Tranquility; and that which us'd to appear to him only by fits and starts, becomes habitual; and that which was only a glimmering before, a constant Light; and he obtains a constant and steady Knowledge. Thus far Avicenna. Besides, he has given an account of those several steps and degrees by which a Man is brought to this perfection; till his Soul is like a polish'd Looking-glass, in which he beholds the Truth: and then he swims in pleasure, and rejoyces exceedingly in his Mind, because of the impressions of Truth which he perceives in it, When he is once attain'd thus far, the next thing which employs him is, that he sometimes looks towards Truth, and sometimes towards himself; and thus he fluctuates between both, till he retires from himself wholly, and looks only to-ward the Divine Essence; and if he do's at any time look towards his own Soul, the only reason is, because that looks to-wards God; and from thence arises a perfect Conjunction [with God.]",,20832,"","""Besides, he has given an account of those several steps and degrees by which a Man is brought to this perfection; till his Soul is like a polish'd Looking-glass, in which he beholds the Truth: and then he swims in pleasure, and rejoyces exceedingly in his Mind, because of the impressions of Truth which he perceives in it, When he is once attain'd thus far, the next thing which employs him is, that he sometimes looks towards Truth, and sometimes towards himself; and thus he fluctuates between both, till he retires from himself wholly, and looks only to-ward the Divine Essence; and if he do's at any time look towards his own Soul, the only reason is, because that looks to-wards God; and from thence arises a perfect Conjunction [with God.]""",Mirror,2013-06-17 15:53:18 UTC,""
7447,"",Searching in Project Gutenberg,2013-06-17 15:56:53 UTC,"§ 6. On the other hand, those who affirm that Hai Ebn Yokdhan was produced in that Island without Father and Mother [18], tell us, that in that island, in a piece of Low ground, it chanc'd that a certain Mass of Earth was so fermented in some period of Years, that the four qualities, viz. Hot, Cold, Dry, Moist, were so equally mix'd, that none of 'em prevail'd over the other; and that this Mass was of a very great Bulk, in which, some parts were better and more equally Temper'd than others,and consequently fitter for Generation; the middle part especially, which came nearest to the Temper of Man's Body. This Matter being in a fermentation, there arose some Bubbles by reason of its viscousness, and it chanc'd that in the midst of it there was a viscous Substance with a very little bubble in it, which was divided into two with a thin partition, full of Spirituous and Aerial Substance, and of the most exact Temperature imaginable. That the Matter being thus dispos'd, there was, by the Command of God, a Spirit infus'd into it; which was join'd so closely to it, that it can scarce be separated from it even so much as in thought; which did as constantly influence this Mass of matter as the Sun do's the World. Now there are some Bodies from whence we perceive no Reflection of Light, as the thin Air: others from which we do but imperfectly; such are thick Bodies which are not smooth (but there is a difference in these, and the difference of their Colours arises from the different manner of their Reception of the Rays); and from others we receive the Reflection in the highest degree, as from Bodies which are smooth and polish'd, as Looking-Glasses and the like; so that those Glasses when ground after a particular manner will Collect so much Light as to kindle a Fire. So that Spirit which comes by the Command of God, do's at all times act upon all Creatures, in some of which notwithstanding, there appears no Impression of it, but the reason of that is, because of their Incapacity into whom it is infus'd; of which kind are things inanimate which are fitly represented in this similitude, by the thin Air. There are another sort again; in which there does appear something of it, as Vegetables and the like, which are represented by the thick Bodies we mention'd, which are not polish'd. And then lastly, there are others, (represented by those Glasses, in our last comparison) in which the impressions of this Spirit are visible, and such we reckon all sorts of Animals. But then, as these smooth and polish'd Bodies which are of the same figure with the Sun [i.e. Spherical] do receive the Rays in a more plentiful manner than any other whatsoever, so also do some Animals receive the Influence of that Spirit more than others, because they are more like to that Spirit and are form'd after his Image: such is Man particularly, which is hinted before where 'tis said that God made Man after his own Image[19].",,20834,"","""So that Spirit which comes by the Command of God, do's at all times act upon all Creatures, in some of which notwithstanding, there appears no Impression of it, but the reason of that is, because of their Incapacity into whom it is infus'd; of which kind are things inanimate which are fitly represented in this similitude, by the thin Air.""",Impressions,2013-06-17 15:56:53 UTC,""
7475,"",C-H Lion,2013-06-18 16:24:15 UTC,"Your Florentine Cupid is certainly (said he) the most Expert in the World. I have since I saw you beheld the most Beautiful of Women. I am faln desperately in Love with her, and those Papers which you see so blotted and scattered, are but so many Essays which I have made to the Declaration of my Passion. And this Handkerchief which I so zealously Caress, is the Inestimable Token which I have to make my self known to her. O Leonora! (continued he) how hast thou stamp'd thine Image on my Soul! How much dearer am I to my self, since I have had thy Heavenly Form in keeping!
(p. 52)",,20938,"","""O Leonora! (continued he) how hast thou stamp'd thine Image on my Soul! How much dearer am I to my self, since I have had thy Heavenly Form in keeping!""",Impressions,2013-06-18 16:24:15 UTC,""
7476,"",C-H Lion,2013-06-18 21:07:38 UTC,"Now the Reader will think me a meer Thracian, thus to Celebrate my own Nativity with Tears.--But I cannot avoid it,--when e're I reflect what a nasty World I then came into, how crowded with Fools and Knaves; how much pain for a little tast of what we call pleasure:--How the greatest part on't is an arrant cheat, and a mischievous one besides,--how little a while we generally stay in't, and yet how unfit to go out on't;--all these Reflections are now so strongly imprinted on my mind, that indeed I wonder how I could be perswaded to come abroad into Light; and had not the innate Sympathetical Love I had for Rambling even before I knew what either that or my self was, toll'd me on; I might possibly have staid as long in my Mother's Lodgings, as the Physitians tell us the Child of a certain French Woman did, who went sixteen years before she was Delivered.
(I. , pp. 34-5)",,20959,"","""How the greatest part on't is an arrant cheat, and a mischievous one besides,--how little a while we generally stay in't, and yet how unfit to go out on't;--all these Reflections are now so strongly imprinted on my mind, that indeed I wonder how I could be perswaded to come abroad into Light.""",Impressions,2013-06-18 21:07:38 UTC,""
7476,"",C-H Lion,2013-06-19 01:25:47 UTC,"The first and choicest care of young Evander, as to this World, was how to please his Master, whom he was now marry'd to, for better for worse, for seven long years together, a great part of his life, and upon which all the rest depended. And so acceptable was this care, so tender a regard had he to this his industrious, though unworthy Servant, that he shall ever retain grateful resentments of the same till he's all Dust and Worms-meat. And how deeply his Character is imprinted in my heart, shall be seen by this Impression wrought off from it, shewing what he was, is, and none else ever shall be.
(II, pp. 204-5)",,20982,"","""And how deeply his Character is imprinted in my heart, shall be seen by this Impression wrought off from it, shewing what he was, is, and none else ever shall be.""",Impressions,2013-06-19 01:25:47 UTC,""
4040,"",Searching in C-H Lion,2013-06-21 16:01:53 UTC,"Nature is a kind of Harmony, which by a strange Collection of Things, makes an Impression on our Senses and our Reason. This is the Origine of all our Passions, which is excited by the Agreement we find between our Senses and their Objects; 'tis that Likeness and Sympathy which gives us the Pleasure of our Senses; Sympathy consists in the Disposition of one Object in favour of another. A certain Collection which agrees with the Organ of Hearing, excites in us the Pleasure which causes the Harmony, and the well Understanding of Musick. In like manner, as the Nice Mixture in Sauces causes a certain Relish, which by its Delicacy pleases all Persons of a good Taste.
(II, pp. 122-3)",,21100,"","""Nature is a kind of Harmony, which by a strange Collection of Things, makes an Impression on our Senses and our Reason.""",Impressions,2013-06-21 16:01:53 UTC,""
4040,"",Searching in C-H Lion,2013-06-21 16:07:07 UTC,"But as the organs in most Men are differently dispos'd, for that reason the Object works differently on their Senses; 'tis that is the Cause of the Natural Aversions which are observable in some Persons that can neither suffer the Sight nor Approach of some Objects: We may from the same Reasons concede to different Opinions, since the same Objects excite different Sensations, according to the Dispositions of the Fibres; and that which Pleases the Palate of one, causes a great Distaste in another.
'Tis not Tasting alone that causes such different Impressions on our Organs, 'tis very probable that other Objects may have the same Effect. Perhaps what seems to one Black, may seem to another of a different Colour; in short, we cannot absolutely determine whether or no the Eyes are not like Glasses differently cut, which after that manner changes the Colours of Objects.
(II, pp. 123-4)",,21101,"","""'Tis not Tasting alone that causes such different Impressions on our Organs, 'tis very probable that other Objects may have the same Effect.""",Impressions,2013-06-21 16:07:07 UTC,""
7496,"",C-H Lion,2013-06-30 16:12:44 UTC,"Your Confidence in entrusting me with your amorous Intrigues, with such a Gentleman, invites me by way of a friendly Revenge, to confide in you, that we may be at liberty to reprove your Affections. Good God!--What yearnings of Compassion have accompanied the certainty of this your Misfortune. The Impulses of my Friendship hurried me to forbode ye any other condition, though miserable, than that of a Lover. A Woman bewitch'd to a Man, is a voluntary Prisoner in in a kind of Hell, whom the Tyranny of Torments tear and rend with so much the more despightful torture, by how much the Heart of a Woman is most soft and tender. Our Dalliances avail not to bend the harden'd haughtiness of an Indiscreet Pride. Our enticing Alurements are despised by Petrified Hearts, and impenetrable to the Impressions of amorous Passion. With Souls of Adamant they correspond with our Lives, encount'ring our Affections with peevish and wayward Scorn. And have you admitted the Frauds of an amorous Appearance of an assiduous Courtship, or an affectionate Assignation, which however he avoids? Silly Belief, to which we bow our Understandings! as if our Desires were made plyable by our natural Tenderness. Unhappy she, that subjects her mind to an humble Salute, to a simpering Lip, opens her Heart to a Glance that represents Dissemble-adoration, and authorizes petty Favours to oblige her. Miserable we, in whom the Pleasures we afford are only belov'd! those Delights which Nature has deposited in us, to the end we might not be more shamefully contemn'd by these ingrateful Wretches, who love, who serve, who idolize, but at the very moment that their fleeting Pleasures terminate, put an end to the ostentation of their Affection, and have no other Aim, but the hopes of Enjoyment, at the instant that they begin to enjoy. Shall a Woman then submit her self to amorous Cares, torment her self to meet the Genius of a Man, grant him the Empire of a coelestial Beauty, when at the very point of knitting the Knot of all Contentments, it comes to be unloos'd, and all her Pleasures are precipitated, when you would think 'em consolidated by Embraces.
(pp. 321-2)",,21322,"","""Our enticing Alurements are despised by Petrified Hearts, and impenetrable to the Impressions of amorous Passion. With Souls of Adamant they correspond with our Lives, encount'ring our Affections with peevish and wayward Scorn.""",Impressions,2013-06-30 16:12:44 UTC,""
4024,"",Reading,2013-09-11 21:10:47 UTC,"From this accurate deduction it is manifest that for obtaining attention in public there is of necessity required a superior position of place. But although this point be generally granted, yet the cause is little agreed in; and it seems to me that very few philosophers have fallen into a true natural solution of this phenomenon. The deepest account, and the most fairly digested of any I have yet met with is this, that air being a heavy body, and therefore, according to the system of Epicurus, continually descending, must needs be more so when laden and pressed down by words, which are also bodies of much weight and gravity, as is manifest from those deep impressions they make and leave upon us, and therefore must be delivered from a due altitude, or else they will neither carry a good aim nor fall down with a sufficient force.
(pp. 27-8 in OUP ed.)",,22705,"","""The deepest account, and the most fairly digested of any I have yet met with is this, that air being a heavy body, and therefore, according to the system of Epicurus, continually descending, must needs be more so when laden and pressed down by words, which are also bodies of much weight and gravity, as is manifest from those deep impressions they make and leave upon us, and therefore must be delivered from a due altitude, or else they will neither carry a good aim nor fall down with a sufficient force.""",Impressions,2013-09-11 21:10:47 UTC,""