Date: 1633

"The mind, you know is like a Table-Book"

— Donne, John (1572-1631)

Date: 1682

"Fancy is but the Feather of the Pen; / Reason is that substantial useful part, / Which gains the Head, while t'other wins the Heart."

— Sheffield, John, first duke of Buckingham and Normanby (1647-1721)

Date: 1683

"Many a Lye, many a Fable, / Is engrav'd on the Souls Razed Table."

— Dixon, Robert (1614/15-1688).

Date: 1699

"Better the Mind no Notions had retain'd, / But still a fair unwritten blank remain'd."

— Pomfret, John (1667-1702)

Date: 1699

"Reason has little now to do but prove / That some most perfect Being rules above, / And this by little Inference we find: / 'Tis plain; 'tis bright, 'tis written on the Mind."

— Pomfret, John (1667-1702)

Date: 1700

"Better the Mind no Notions had retain'd, / But still a fair Unwritten Blank remain'd; / For now, who Truth from Falshood wou'd discern; / must first disrobe the Mind, and all Unlearn."

— Pomfret, John (1667-1702)