Date: 1762

"A multitude of objects crowding into the mind at once, disturb the attention, and pass without making any impression, or any lasting impression."

— Home, Henry, Lord Kames (1696-1782)

Date: 1762

"In the latter passage, the most striking circumstances are selected to fill the mind with the grand and terrible. The former is a collection of minute and low circumstances, which scatter the thought and make no impression."

— Home, Henry, Lord Kames (1696-1782)

Date: 1762

"All we can say is, that the emotion raised by a moving body, resembles its cause: it feels as if the mind were carried along."

— Home, Henry, Lord Kames (1696-1782)

Date: 1762

"Downward motion being natural and without effort, tends rather to quiet the mind than to rouse it. Upward motion, on the contrary, overcoming the resistance of gravity, makes an impression of a great effort, and thereby rouses and enlivens the mind."

— Home, Henry, Lord Kames (1696-1782)

Date: 1762

"Accordingly, where the object is dangerous, or appears so, the sudden alarm it gives, without preparation, is apt totally to unhinge the mind, and for a moment to suspend all the faculties, even thought itself."

— Home, Henry, Lord Kames (1696-1782)

Date: 1762

"A tide of connected perceptions, glides gently into the mind, and produceth no perturbation. An object on the other hand breaking in unexpectedly, sounds an alarm, rouses the mind out of its calm state, and directs its whole attention upon the object, which, if agreeable, becomes doubly so."

— Home, Henry, Lord Kames (1696-1782)

Date: 1762

"It ought to be so deeply ingraved on the mind, as to be ready for use upon every occasion. Now, in order to a deep impression, it is wisely contrived, that things should be introduced to our acquaintance, with a certain pomp and solemnity productive of a vivid emotion. When the impression is onc...

— Home, Henry, Lord Kames (1696-1782)

Date: 1762

"During his waking hours, amusement by intervals is requisite to unbend his mind from serious occupation."

— Home, Henry, Lord Kames (1696-1782)

Date: 1762

"After a fit of merryment, we are, it is true, the less disposed to the serious and sublime: but then, a ludicrous scene, by unbending the mind from severe application to more interesting subjects, may prevent fatigue, and preserve our relish entire."

— Home, Henry, Lord Kames (1696-1782)

Date: 1762

"The world we inhabit is replete with things not less remarkable for their variety than their number. These, unfolded by the wonderful mechanism of external sense, furnish the mind with many perceptions, which, joined with ideas of memory, of imagination, and of reflection, form a complete train ...

— Home, Henry, Lord Kames (1696-1782)