Date: 1651

"Many erroneous opinions are about the essence and original of [the rational soul]; whether it be fire, as Zeno held; harmony, as Aristoxenus; number, as Xenocrates; whether it be organical, or inorganical; seated in the brain, heart or blood; mortal or immortal; how it comes into the body."

— Burton, Robert (1577-1640)

Date: 1659

"The minde is sometimes a Bull, sometimes a Serpent, and sometimes a flame of fire; and then the musick of the soule is quite out of tune; the Bells ring backward as in some general conflagration."

— Tubbe, Henry (1618-1655)

Date: 1659

"Nothing puts a man so much out of tune as discontent."

— Tubbe, Henry (1618-1655)

Date: 1664

"You can think of our machine's heart and arteries, which push the animal spirits into the cavities of its brain, as being like the bellows of an organ, which push air into the wind-chests; and you can think of external objects, which stimulate certain nerves and cause spirits contained in the ca...

— Descartes, René (1596-1650)

Date: 1694

"For although the Soul is said to reside in one place, it operates in every part, exercising every Member, which are the Souls Instruments, by which she manifesteth her power; but if it so happen, that any of the Organical parts are out of Tune, the work is confused."

— Aristotle [pseud.]

Date: 1704

"Nay, wise Men and great Philosophers, have accounted it as the Archet or Musical Bow of the Mind. And certainly it is most true, and as it were a Secret of Nature, that the Minds of Men are more patent to Affections, and Impressions Congregate than Solitary."

— Dennis, John (1658-1734)

Date: 1709, 1714

"For this is the Effect, and this the Beauty of their Art; 'in vocal Measures of Syllables, and Sounds, to express the Harmony and Numbers of an inward kind; and represent the Beautys of a human Soul, by proper Foils, and Contrarietys, which serve as Graces in this Limning, and render this Musick...

— Cooper, Anthony Ashley, third earl of Shaftesbury (1671-1713)

Date: From Tuesd. Aug. 9. to Thursday Aug. 11. 1709

"We must take our Minds a Note or two lower, or we shall be tortur'd by Jealousy or Anger."

— Addison, Joseph (1672-1719)

Date: From Tuesd. Sept. 13. to Thursd. Sept. 15. 1709

"The Strings of the Heart, which are to be touched to give us Compassion, are not so played on but by the finest Hand."

— Steele, Sir Richard (1672-1729)

Date: 1710, 1714

"For the understanding here must have its mark, its characteristic note, by which it may be distinguished."

— Cooper, Anthony Ashley, third earl of Shaftesbury (1671-1713)