Date: 1741
"He now conjectured it was more of the dignity of the soul to perform several operations by her little ministers, the animal spirits, from whence it was natural to conclude that she resides in different parts according to different inclinations, sexes, ages, and professions."
preview | full record— Pope, Alexander (1688-1744); Arbuthnot, John (bap. 1677, d. 1735)
Date: 1741
Just as "the King never dies" so too is the "power of thinking, self-moving, and governing the whole machine, [...] communicated from every particle to its immediate successor; who as soon as he is gone, immediately takes upon him the government, which still preserves the unity of the whole system."
preview | full record— Pope, Alexander (1688-1744); Arbuthnot, John (bap. 1677, d. 1735)
Date: 1741
The self-moving principle is like that in the House of Commons determined by majority so that "so many unthinking members" may compose "one thinking system"
preview | full record— Pope, Alexander (1688-1744); Arbuthnot, John (bap. 1677, d. 1735)
Date: 1759
"You will easily believe that I was pleased with his courtesy; and finding that his predominant passion was desire of money, I began now to think my danger less, for I knew that no sum would be thought too great for the release of Pekuah."
preview | full record— Johnson, Samuel (1709-1784)
Date: 1759
"He shewed, with great strength of sentiment, and variety of illustration, that human nature is degraded and debased, when the lower faculties predominate over the higher."
preview | full record— Johnson, Samuel (1709-1784)
Date: 1759
"The way to be happy is to live according to nature, in obedience to that universal and unalterable law with which every heart is originally impressed; which is not written on it by precept, but engraven by destiny, not instilled by education, but infused at our nativity."
preview | full record— Johnson, Samuel (1709-1784)
Date: 1759
"He shewed, with great strength of sentiment, and variety of illustration, that human nature is degraded and debased, when the lower faculties predominate over the higher; that when fancy, the parent of passion, usurps the dominion of the mind, nothing ensues but the natural effect of unlawful go...
preview | full record— Johnson, Samuel (1709-1784)
Date: 1759
"By degrees the reign of fancy is confirmed; she grows first imperious, and in time despotick."
preview | full record— Johnson, Samuel (1709-1784)