Anonymous [Old Sportsman]

The Humours of Fleet-Street: And the Strand

London

Printed for Anthony Wright; and sold at all the booksellers and pamphlet-shops

1749

"The soul of man is originally a pure tabula rasa, capable of any impression either good or evil, and receives its bent from habits and education."

[...] But it would notwithstanding be a very absurd method of proceeding, as from such examples no general rule can be drawn, that can reflect upon the natural rectitude of our nature; for I may venture to affirm, that there are very few constitutional vices, and that a careful and virtuous education will undoubtedly get the better of such as are to be found in some particular persons and that it is only where that is wanting, or a wrong turn given it, that human nature springs up deformed. The soul of man is originally a pure tabula rasa, capable of any impression either good or evil, and receives its bent from habits and education. We are not then, George, to blame providence, or cast reflections upon human nature, when we see any individuals of our species spring up with monstrous appetites and fiend-like inclinations, since the deformity is not owing to their natural make, but to the carelessness of parents, friends and relations, who have had the management of them when young, when their tender minds were susceptible [end page 4] of every impression, without capacity of making an election of such as were most for its happiness. We we see such, we ought to afford them our pity, and tenderest compassion, and endeavour all in our power to reclaim them, and bring them to the light and use of that reason which bad habits has obscur'd.
(pp. 4-5)

Writing::Tabula Rasa

Searching "tabula rasa" in ECCO

Old Sportsman. The Humours of Fleet-Street: And the Strand; Being the Lives and Adventures of the Most Noted Ladies of Pleasure; ... By an Old Sportsman. (London: Printed for Anthony Wright; and sold at all the booksellers and pamphlet-shops, 1749).

Blank Slate

10/11/2006