"It seems to me absolutely impossible, without such a Help, to keep the Mind easy, and prevent its wearing out the Body, as the Sword does the Scabbard; it is no matter what it is, provided it be but a Hobby-Horse, and an Amusement, and stop the Current Reflexion and intense Thinking, which Persons of weak Nerves are aptest to run into."
— Cheyne, George (1671-1743)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for G. Strahan
Date
1733
Metaphor
"It seems to me absolutely impossible, without such a Help, to keep the Mind easy, and prevent its wearing out the Body, as the Sword does the Scabbard; it is no matter what it is, provided it be but a Hobby-Horse, and an Amusement, and stop the Current Reflexion and intense Thinking, which Persons of weak Nerves are aptest to run into."
Metaphor in Context
"It is upon this Account that I would earnestly recommend to all those afflicted with Nervous Distempers, always to have some innocent entertaining Amusement to employ themselves in, for the Rest of the Day, after they have employed a sufficent time upon Exercise, towards the Evening, to prepare them for their Night's quiet Rest. It seems to me absolutely impossible, without such a Help, to keep the Mind easy, and prevent its wearing out the Body, as the Sword does the Scabbard; it is no matter what it is, provided it be but a Hobby-Horse, and an Amusement, and stop the Current Reflexion and intense Thinking, which Persons of weak Nerves are aptest to run into. The common Division of Mankind, into Quick Thinkers, Slow Thinkers, and No Thinkers, is not without Foundation in Nature and true Philosophy. Persons of slender and weak Nerves are generally of the first Class: the Activity, Mobility, and Delicacy of their intellectual Organs make them so, and thereby weakens and relaxes the Material Organs of the intellectual Faculties; and therefore ingenious Flattering, easy and agreeable Amusements, and Intervals of No-thinking and Swiss-Meditation, (as it is maliciously called) is as necessary for such, as Sleep to the Weary, or Meat to the Hungry, else the Spring will infallibly do Hurt. Reading must be light, entertaining, and diverting, as well as Food. Conversation must be easy and agreeable, without Disputes or Contradiction. The Diversion innocent and inexpensive, else the Remorse and Reflexion afterwards will do infinitely more Prejudice than the present Amusement can recompense; and it must end at seasonable Hours, without leaving a Hurry and Fatigue upon the Spirits of the Patient [...]
(pp. 181-2)
(pp. 181-2)
Categories
Provenance
Reading at the British Library
Citation
At least 8 entries in ESTC (1733, 1734, 1735).
See The English Malady: or, a Treatise of Nervous Diseases of All Kinds, As Spleen, Vapours, Lowness of Spirits, Hypochondriacal, and Hysterical Distempers, &c. In Three Parts. Part I. of the Nature and Cause of Nervous Distempers. Part II. of the Cure of Nervous Distempers. Part III. Variety of Cases That Illustrate and Confirm the Method of Cure. With the Author’s Own Case at Large. (London: Printed for G. Strahan in Cornhill, and J. Leake at Bath, 1733). <Link to ESTC>
See The English Malady: or, a Treatise of Nervous Diseases of All Kinds, As Spleen, Vapours, Lowness of Spirits, Hypochondriacal, and Hysterical Distempers, &c. In Three Parts. Part I. of the Nature and Cause of Nervous Distempers. Part II. of the Cure of Nervous Distempers. Part III. Variety of Cases That Illustrate and Confirm the Method of Cure. With the Author’s Own Case at Large. (London: Printed for G. Strahan in Cornhill, and J. Leake at Bath, 1733). <Link to ESTC>
Date of Entry
06/20/2014
