Date: 1722

"Mankind, from the eldest ages, have felt great disturbance in themselves, from a vehement and constant strife between their reason and their passions; they found themselves distracted by these inward warring principles, of which they were compounded, drawing different ways, and contending for vi...

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1722

"When they followed the dictates for reason, they bore the torment of ungratify'd inordinate appetites; and when they chose to obey their passions, reflection fill'd them with terror and remorse: and in this sense, it is true, that all men are born in a state of war; that is, they felt in themsel...

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1722

"Though the world was thoroughly sensible of this calamity, yet they were ignorant of the cause that produc'd it, and did not for a long time apply themselves to find out any means of cure, and ways of methods, by which this unhappy state might be retriev'd; by restoring reason the empire of the ...

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1722

" But the immediate disciples of these two great masters were much divided about reconciling the two combatants, reason and passion, and bring this intestine war to an end."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1722

"Zeno, and his scholars the Stoicks, took an odd fancy, that the passions were not interwoven with the constitution of man, and so were no part of his nature, but the blemishes and vicious excrescencies of the soul, and therefore ought to be entirely cut off; noxious weeds, that poison'd the mind...

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1722

"When religious passions, namely, love, desire, hope and delight are exalted in the highest degree, and agitate the soul with the greatest vehemence, while reason presides as sovereign, holds the reins, and directs all their motions; this is so far from being a wild and extravagant temper of mind...

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1723

"Can'st say what diff'rent Turns the Spirits take, / When they of diff'rent Kinds Impressions make; / What vital Springs those Spirits in their Flight / Strike to cause Torment, what to give Delight."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1723

"Thou know'st the secret Soul's imperial Throne / Surrounded with thick Darkness, like thy own, / Where she to all the Senses Audience gives, / Appoints their Tasks, their Messages receives, / And passes Judgement in her Sov'reign Court / On every Envoy's true or false Report / How her sole Nod...

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1723

"Thou [God] only can'st the wond'rous Links descry / That Minds unbody'd to a Body tye."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1723

"Thou see'st from whence her Colours Fancy takes, / Of what Materials she her Pencil makes / By which she paints her Scenes with such Applause, / And in the Brain ten thousand Landskips draws."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)