"Whereas the several degrees of Angels may probably have larger views, and some of them be endowed with capacities able to retain together, and constantly set before them, as in one Picture, all their past knowledge at once."
— Locke, John (1632-1704)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Thomas Dring
Date
1694
Metaphor
"Whereas the several degrees of Angels may probably have larger views, and some of them be endowed with capacities able to retain together, and constantly set before them, as in one Picture, all their past knowledge at once."
Metaphor in Context
'Tis reported of that prodigy of Parts, Monsieur Pascal, that, till the decay of his health had impaired his memory, he forgot nothing of what he had done, read, or thought in any part of his rational Age. This is a privilege so little known to most Men, that it seems almost incredible to those, who, after the ordinary way, measure all others by themselves: But yet, when considered, may help us to enlarge our thoughts towards greater Perfections of it in superior ranks of Spirits. For this of Mr. Pascal was still with the narrowness, that humane Minds are confin'd to here, of having great variety of Ideas only by succession, not all at once: Whereas the several degrees of Angels may probably have larger views, and some of them be endowed with capacities able to retain together, and constantly set before them, as in one Picture, all their past knowledge at once. This, we may conceive, would be no small advantage to the knowledge of a thinking Man; if all his past thoughts, and reasonings could be always present to him. And therefore we may suppose it one of those ways, wherein the knowledge of separate Spirits may exceedingly surpass ours.
(II.x.9)
(II.x.9)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
I find over 24 entries in the ESTC (1694, 1695, 1700, 1706, 1710, 1715, 1721, 1726, 1731, 1735, 1741, 1748, 1753, 1759, 1760, 1765, 1768, 1775, 1777, 1786, 1788, 1793, 1795, 1796, 1798). See also the many abridgements issued in the period.
An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. In Four Books. Written by John Locke, Gent. 2nd edition, with large additions. (London: Printed for Thomas Dring, at the Harrow,over-against the Inner-Temple Gate in Fleet-street; and Samuel Manship, at the Ship in Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange, 1694). <Link to ESTC><Link to EEBO>
Searching in a Past Masters edition based on the 12th Edition of Locke's Works and proofread against the 1959 Fraser edition.
Reading John Locke's An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, ed. Peter Nidditch (Oxford, Oxford UP, 1975)--against which I have checked the text searched in Past Masters. Note, Nidditch's text is based on 4th ed. of 1700.
An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. In Four Books. Written by John Locke, Gent. 2nd edition, with large additions. (London: Printed for Thomas Dring, at the Harrow,over-against the Inner-Temple Gate in Fleet-street; and Samuel Manship, at the Ship in Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange, 1694). <Link to ESTC><Link to EEBO>
Searching in a Past Masters edition based on the 12th Edition of Locke's Works and proofread against the 1959 Fraser edition.
Reading John Locke's An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, ed. Peter Nidditch (Oxford, Oxford UP, 1975)--against which I have checked the text searched in Past Masters. Note, Nidditch's text is based on 4th ed. of 1700.
Date of Entry
03/02/2014
