Date: 1746

Too many books, "like too much wine - intoxicate the brain"

— Ruffhead, James

Date: 1746

"To true happiness the NOUS is blind"

— Ruffhead, James

Date: 1746

The rays of beauties may "wound the bleeding heart" and make "useless the medicable art"

— Ruffhead, James

Date: 1746

"As when an inflammation pains the sight, / The tender eye can scarce endure the light," so the treacherous soul "wants a screen"

— Ruffhead, James

Date: 1746

One's sires's "great soul" may respire in one's breast

— Ruffhead, James

Date: 1746

"See other planets, suns, and systems roll, / And with celestial science-feast the soul,/ Low as the earth-ambition sinks again, / And what was thought a pleasure proves a pain."

— Ruffhead, James

Date: 1746

"As age come on, and vigorous minds decay / All pleasures sicken, satiate, die away."

— Ruffhead, James

Date: 1748

"Cæsar, Pompey, and Alexander the Great are continually in his mouth; and as he reads a good deal without any judgment to digest it, his ideas are confused, and his harrangues as unintelligible as infinite."

— Smollett, Tobias (1721-1777)

Date: 1747-8

Passion may blind the judgment and help on meditated delusion

— Richardson, Samuel (bap. 1689, d. 1761)

Date: 1747-8

"Will not some serious thoughts mingle with thy melilot, and tear off the callus of thy mind, as that may stay the leather from thy back, and as thy epispastics may strip the parchment from thy plotting head?"

— Richardson, Samuel (bap. 1689, d. 1761)