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: From Thursd. Nov. 24 to Saturd. Nov. 26. 1709

"I Have been this Evening recollecting what Passages (since I could first think) have left the strongest Impressions upon my Mind; and after strict Enquiry, I am convinced, that the Impulses I have received from Theatrical Representations, have had a greater Effect, than otherwise would have been...

— Steele, Sir Richard (1672-1729)

Date: From Tuesday Dec. 13. to Thursd. Dec. 15. 1709

"To tell you truly, said I, about the Thirtieth Year of my Age, I received a Wound that has still left a Scar in my Mind, never to be quite worn out by Time or Philosophy."

— Steele, Sir Richard (1672-1729)

Date: From Thursd. Dec. 15. to Saturd. Dec. 17. 1709

"I am sure I feel it in so extraordinary a Manner, that I cannot in a Day or Two get out of my Imagination any very beautiful or disagreeable Impression which I receive on such Occasions."

— Addison, Joseph (1672-1719)

Date: From Thursd. Dec. 15. to Saturd. Dec. 17. 1709

"For this Reason I frequently look in at the Playhouse, in order to enlarge my Thoughts, and warm my Mind with some new Idea's, that may be serviceable to me in my Lucubrations."

— Addison, Joseph (1672-1719)

Date: From Saturd. Dec. 24. to Tuesd. Dec. 27. 1709

"Besides that, the Slackening and Unbending our Minds on some Occasions, makes them exert themselves with greater Vigour and Alacrity, when they return to their proper and natural State."

— Steele, Sir Richard (1672-1729)

Date: 1710, 1714

"You would wonder to hear how close he pushes matters and how thoroughly he carries on the business of self-dissection. By virtue of this soliloquy, he becomes two distinct persons. He is pupil and preceptor. He teaches and he learns."

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

Date: 1710, 1714

"For company is an extreme provocative to fancy and, like a hotbed in gardening, is apt to make our imaginations sprout too fast."

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

Date: 1710, 1714

"And the prince of this latter tribe may be proved to have been a great frequenter of the wood and river banks, where he consumed abundance of his breath, suffered his fancy to evaporate, and reduced the vehemence both of his spirit and voice."

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

Date: 1710, 1714

"For let will be ever so free, humour and fancy, we see, govern it."

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