work_id,theme,provenance,created_at,text,reviewed_on,id,comments,metaphor,dictionary,updated_at,context
4582,"",Searching in ECCO,2006-10-09 00:00:00 UTC,"To express this to us by Similitudes both just and beautiful; some Philosophers compare an human Soul to an empty Cabinet, of inexpressible Value for the Matter and Workmanship: and particularly, for the wonderful Contrivance of it, as having all imaginable Conveniencies within, for treasuring up Jewels and Curiousities of every kind.--But then we ourselves must collect and sort them, and we shall ill deserve such a Present from the Maker, if we either keep it empty, or fill it with Trifles; nay, if we do not, as we have opportunity, furnish and enrich it with whatsoever is of use or worth in Art or nature.----This ought indeed to be the main Business of our Lives.--Others, with equal truth and justice, have likened the Minds of Children to a rasa Tabula, or white Paper, whereon we may imprint, or write what Characters we please; which will prove so lasting, as not to be effaced without injuring or destroying the Beauty of the whole; even as Experience shews, and the Son of Sirach advises, My son gather instruction from thy youth up: so shalt thou find wisdom, till thine old age.--These first Characters therefore ought to be deeply and [end page 7] beautifully struck, and the Learning they express should be of great Price. And this, if timely Care be taken, may be done with ease because the Mind is then soft and tender: and because Truth and Right are by the nature of Things, as pleasant to the Soul, as Light and Proportion to the Eye, or as sweet as Honey to the Taste. But if such Impressions be not made, either ignorance and Folly will prevail; or Errors and Prejudices will take possession, and afterwards prevent the Knowledge of Wisdom from entring or striking on the Mind with its innate force and lustre. And when once we have lost our natural Sense and Love of Truth and Right, and when the Light within us is become Darkness, how great must that Darkness be, and how irretrievable the Misery of such a State? Wise there was the caution of our blessed Master, who is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life, Take heed, that the Light which is in thee be not Darkness.
(pp. 7-8)",2012-04-17,12057,"•I've included thrice: Characters, Eye, Taste.
•Cross-reference: compare previous. Do Bernard and Denne crib from the same script?
","""These first Characters therefore ought to be deeply and beautifully struck, and the Learning they express should be of great Price. And this, if timely Care be taken, may be done with ease because the Mind is then soft and tender: and because Truth and Right are by the nature of Things, as pleasant to the Soul, as Light and Proportion to the Eye, or as sweet as Honey to the Taste.""",Coinage and Writing,2012-04-17 20:35:10 UTC,""
4891,"","Reading Peter Walmsley's The Rhetoric of Berkeley's Philosophy (Cambridge UP, 2006), 1.",2004-01-09 00:00:00 UTC,"[...] Dr Berkeley had formerly made his addresses to Mrs Donnellan, what were her reasons for refusing him I know not; friends were consenting, circumstances equal, her opinion captivated, but perhaps an aversion to the cares of married life, & apprehensions from some Particularities in his temper hinder'd the match; hoever their friendship always continued, & I have always heard her give him for virtues & talents the preference to all Mankind, still his admirers say he excelled every one in teh arts of conversation; as to his writings they are some of them too subtile to be even the object of most peoples consideration. He has had the hard fate of not convincing any one, tho he cannot be confuted; a judgment of his metaphysical works must be pass'd by superior intelligences, it falls not within the measure of 5 senses. I have heard that his understanding was rather hurt by the absolute retirement in which he lived, and indeed he had an imagination too lively to be trusted to itself; the treasures of it were inexhaustible, but for want of commerce with mankind he made that rich oar into bright but useless medals which wd otherwise have been stamp'd into current coin, fit for the use & service of mankind: he considered them as pernicious to the public which is partly true, yet so happily have things been Contrived by the allwise artificer that not a vanity is given in vain. Ambition, avarice, & many passions that hurt the wearer serve the public weal. I do not mean that such persons should not be discouraged, but that we should not always be as much in wrath as others appear in the wrong. Every honest & gratefull man would have hazarded even his life for such a Person as Dr Berkeley, & what can one say for Dr Frewin's behaviour? I suppose he must excuse himself on the accounts representing the Bishop as already dead. I think it was happy for that good man he could not be recall'd; so to end the heart ache & the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to, is a consumation devoutly to be wish'd, but when one considers this to be the Eve to an Eternal day how happy!
(pp. 2-3)",2011-05-20,13180,"•INTEREST. USE IN ENTRY
•I've included thrice: Ore, Medals, Coin. Note the pun on ""commerce.""
•Previous review 2007-04-26","""I have heard that his understanding was rather hurt by the absolute retirement in which he lived, and indeed he had an imagination too lively to be trusted to itself; the treasures of it were inexhaustible, but for want of commerce with mankind he made that rich oar into bright but useless medals which wd otherwise have been stamp'd into current coin, fit for the use & service of mankind.""","Coinage, Impressions, and Metal",2012-04-12 19:04:46 UTC,Letter to Gilbert West of 28 January 1753
5088,"","Searching ""coin"" and ""idea"" in HDIS (Prose); found again ""gold""; and again ""silver""",2009-09-14 19:39:07 UTC,"Having, a priori, intended to dedicate The Amours of my uncle Toby to Mr. ***--I see more reasons, a posteriori, for doing it to Lord *******.
I should lament from my soul, if this exposed me to the jealousy of their Reverences; because, a posteriori, in Court-latin, signifies, the kissing hands for preferment--or any thing else--in order to get it.
My opinion of Lord ******* is neither better nor worse, than it was of Mr. ***. Honours, like impressions upon coin, may give an ideal and local value to a bit of base metal; but Gold and Silver will pass all the world over without any other recommendation than their own weight.
The same good will that made me think of offering up half an hour's amusement to Mr. *** when out of place--operates more forcibly at present, as half an hour's amusement will be more serviceable and refreshing after labour and sorrow, than after a philosophical repast.
(IX, p. 421)",2005-04-14,13740,•USE IN ENTRY.,"""Honours, like impressions upon coin, may give an ideal and local value to a bit of base metal; but Gold and Silver will pass all the world over without any other recommendation than their own weight.""",Coinage,2011-05-20 14:00:18 UTC,"Vol. IX, A Dedication to a Great Man"