"Fancy rough-draws, but judgement smooths and finishes."
— Shadwell, Thomas (1642-1692)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Henry Herringman [etc.]
Date
1671
Metaphor
"Fancy rough-draws, but judgement smooths and finishes."
Metaphor in Context
Nor can I think, to the writing of his humors (which were not onely the follies, but vices and subtleties of men) that wit was not required, but judgment; where, by the way, they speak as if judgment were a less thing than wit. But certainly it was meant otherwise by nature, who subjected wit to the government of judgment, which is the noblest faculty of the mind. Fancy rough-draws, but judgement smooths and finishes; nay judgment does in deed comprehend wit, for no man can have that who has not wit. In fancy mad men equal, if not excel all others, and one may as well say that one of those mad men is as good a man as a temperate wiseman, as that one of the very fancyful Plays (admired most by Women) can be so good a Play as one of Johnson's correct, and well-govern'd Comedies.
Categories
Provenance
Searching HDIS
Date of Entry
10/14/2004
