Date: 1709

"How soft the first ideas prove, / Which wander through our minds!"

— Finch [née], Anne, countess of Winchilsea (1666-1720)

Date: 1712, 1715, 1719

A "Ladyship's Virtue and Prudence" may gain "absolute an Empire over the Hearts of the World."

— Barker, Jane (1675-1743)

Date: 1712, 1715, 1719

When a young Lady rallies or banters a young Gentleman it may be counted as "an Invitation to Courtship, or a transparent Mask, thro' which they see she has a Mind to be marry'd"

— Barker, Jane (1675-1743)

Date: 1712, 1715, 1719

"But why, oh! why have you given me an Interior, bearing so great a Resemblance to your own divine Purities, and not given me the Power to act accordingly; but have fix'd me in such a State, that my Actions must combat my Conscience, and my Conscience oppose my Reason, and all make a civil War in...

— Barker, Jane (1675-1743)

Date: 1712, 1715, 1719

The "mysterious Turnings of human Cogitations" compose "Labyrinths for Reason to lose her Way, unless conducted by the Line of Vertue"

— Barker, Jane (1675-1743)

Date: 1712, 1715, 1719

On emay be "absorp'd in Sorrow, and loaden with Afflictions," alleviated only by discreet Words which may calm my Passion and serve "as Balm to a Mind enflam'd with Sorrow"

— Barker, Jane (1675-1743)

Date: 1712, 1715, 1719

One may endeavor "to stifle and suppress [...] foolish Fancies, as Rebels to [her] Reason, and Enemies to [her] Repose"

— Barker, Jane (1675-1743)

Date: 1712, 1715, 1719

"I placed him in the Tribunal of my Judgment, as the Author of my Father's Death, which render'd him unfit ever to be my Husband"

— Barker, Jane (1675-1743)

Date: 1712, 1715, 1719

When "Interest and Inclination stand Candidates for Preference, we then trick with Virtue, and put the Cheat upon Honour; we impose upon our Understandings, and force our Judgments; nay more, we depose even Reason itself, and give Passions the Regency; and when our Minds are thus untun'd, our Act...

— Barker, Jane (1675-1743)

Date: 1712, 1715, 1719

Our Minds may be "untun'd," so that "our Actions soon joyn in the same Discord; post-pone the Laws of the Gods, and make those of our Country ineffectual"

— Barker, Jane (1675-1743)