« back to search

"Or, to set the difference betwixt philosophic and poetic Imagination in another light by the use of an image, we may observe, that in the mind of the Philosopher the RAYS of fancy are more COLLECTED, and more CONCENTRATED in one point; and consequently are more favourable to ACCURATE and DISTINCT VISION: that in the mind of the Poet they are more DIFFUSED; and therefore their lustre is less PIERCING, though more UNIVERSAL."

— Duff, William (1732-1815)

Author

An Essay on Original Genius

Place of Publication

London

Publisher

Printed for Edward and Charles Dilly

Date

1767

Metaphor

"Or, to set the difference betwixt philosophic and poetic Imagination in another light by the use of an image, we may observe, that in the mind of the Philosopher the RAYS of fancy are more COLLECTED, and more CONCENTRATED in one point; and consequently are more favourable to ACCURATE and DISTINCT VISION: that in the mind of the Poet they are more DIFFUSED; and therefore their lustre is less PIERCING, though more UNIVERSAL."

Metaphor in Context

The kind of Imagination most properly adapted to Original Philosophic Genius, is that which is distinguished by REGULARITY, CLEARNESS, and ACCURACY. The kind peculiar to Original Genius in Poetry, is that whose essential properties are a noble IRREGULARITY, VEHEMENCE, and ENTHUSIASM. Or, to set the difference betwixt philosophic and poetic Imagination in another light by the use of an image, we may observe, that in the mind of the Philosopher the RAYS of fancy are more COLLECTED, and more CONCENTRATED in one point; and consequently are more favourable to ACCURATE and DISTINCT VISION: that in the mind of the Poet they are more DIFFUSED; and therefore their lustre is less PIERCING, though more UNIVERSAL. The former perceives the objects he contemplates more CLEARLY; the latter comprehends a greater number of them at ONE GLANCE. Such are the respective characters of Imagination in Philosophy and in Poetry, as distinguished from each other.
(pp. 96-7)