Theobald, Lewis (1688-1744)

The Censor, No. 15

Friday, May 13, 1717

"Nature which was at first, excepting the original Taint, fair, and sincere, or as Mr. Lock says, 'a blank Sheet of Paper' capable of receiving any Characters at the Pleasure of the Writer, soon is either blurred over with Impertinence, fouled with Impurity, or improved and dignified with Impressions of Honour, Virtue and Morality."

The most different Actions, such as those which relate to Virtue, or Vice, have the same Effect upon the Actor from the force of Usage and Custom: And the repeated Returns of Piety or Debauchery equally affect the Saint and the Sinner. Nature which was at first, excepting the original Taint, fair, and sincere, or as Mr. Lock says, a blank Sheet of Paper capable of receiving any Characters at the Pleasure of the Writer, soon is either blurred over with Impertinence, fouled with Impurity, or improved and dignified with Impressions of Honour, Virtue and Morality. If an evil and perverse Hand draws out the first Lines, it is probable that the same will be continued to the End; or if any Interpolations should be made by a better Hand, they will be so visible that a common Critick in Life will easily find them out, and discover that they are not of a piece with the whole. On the contrary, when the Characters are fair at the beginning, they mend upon you as you proceed, and, Page after Page, improve in their Beauties. I will not pursue the Metaphor too far, but observe the End of my Design, which is to shew the Power of Habits, and Customs; and how impossible it is to get the better of a Predominant Vice, when you have long indulged the Practice of it.
(pp. 104-5)

Writing::Paper Writing::Blank Writing::Characters

Reading at the Folger Library

3 entries in ESTC (1717).

Text from The Censor, 3 vols (London: Printed for Jonas Brown, 1717), iii, 104-111. <Link to Google Books>

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03/05/2012