Watts, Isaac (1674-1748)

The Improvement of the Mind

London

Printed for James Brackstone

1741

"An active Fancy readily wanders over a multitude of objects, and is continually entertaining itself with new flying Images; it runs thro' a Number of new Scenes or new Pages with pleasure, but without due Attention, and seldom suffers itself to dwell long enough upon any one of them to make a deep impression thereof upon the Mind, and commit it to lasting Remembrance."

'Tis often found that a fine Genius has but a feeble Memory: For where the Genius is bright, and the Imagination vivid, the Power of Memory may be too much neglected and lose its Improvement. An active Fancy readily wanders over a multitude of objects, and is continually entertaining itself with new flying Images; it runs thro' a Number of new Scenes or new Pages with pleasure, but without due Attention, and seldom suffers itself to dwell long enough upon any one of them to make a deep impression thereof upon the Mind, and commit it to lasting Remembrance. This is one plain and obvious Reason why there are some persons of very bright Parts and active Spirits who have but short and narrow Powers of Remembrance; for having Riches of their own they are not sollicitous to borrow.
(pp. 250-1)

Motion::Wandering Motion::Flying Motion::Runnning Impressions::Impression

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32 entries in ESTC (1741, 1743, 1753, 1754, 1761, 1768, 1773, 1782, 1784, 1785, 1786, 1787, 1789, 1790, 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1798, 1799, 1800).

Most text drawn from Google Books. See The Improvement of the Mind: or, a Supplement to the Art of Logick: Containing a Variety of Remarks and Rules for the Attainment and Communication of Useful Knowledge, in Religion, in the Sciences, and in Common Life. By I. Watts, D.D. (London: Printed for James Brackstone, at the Globe in Cornhill, 1741). <Link to ESTC><Link to 2nd edition in Google Books>

02/05/2014