Date: 1744, 1753

"[F]or as his whole Mind was bent on one Point, and as the Knowledge of Characters relating to that Point was the grand Instrument of his Trade, he as mechanically acquired it as a Fisherman does the Knowledge of the proper Baits to catch the several Sorts of Fish."

— Fielding, Sarah (1710-1768)

Date: 1744, 1753

The mind may be "so weakened by the continual Daggers that pierce it, that our Judgment is lost, and we hourly accuse ourselves for something we have done, or something we have omitted, condemning ourselves for what we cannot account for."

— Fielding, Sarah (1710-1768)

Date: 1744, 1753

"A Metaphor from Mechanism, I think, will very plainly illustrate my Thoughts on this Subject [of wit and judgment]: For let a Machine, of any kind, be joined together by an ingenious Artist, and I dare say, he will be best able to take it apart again: a Bungler, or an ignorant Person, perhaps, m...

— Fielding, Sarah (1710-1768)

Date: 1744, 1753

"But this Fallacy of Mrs. Orgueil was as plainly perceived by little Camilla, as it would have been by any grown Person whatever; for there is no Difficulty in discovering such kind of Fallacies, unless the Indulgence of violent Passions blinds and perverts the Judgment."

— Fielding, Sarah (1710-1768)

Date: 1744, 1753

"Dumont's Absence, and her own returning Health, enabled her seriously to set about the conquering her Passion."

— Fielding, Sarah (1710-1768)

Date: 1744, 1753

"I conjure you, Madam, by all the Ties of Virtue and of Honour, to collect all your Force, make use of that Strength of Reason Nature has given you, gloriously to conquer this unfortunate Passion which has seized you, and which, if indulged, must inevitably end in the Destruction of us all."

— Fielding, Sarah (1710-1768)

Date: 1744, 1753

"Sometimes he flattered himself with the Thoughts that Time and Reason would turn Dorimene from her horrid Purpose, and enable her to conquer this unreasonable Passion."

— Fielding, Sarah (1710-1768)

Date: 1744, 1753

"He ordered his Coach to drive into Fleetstreet, that he might be out of the Neighbourhood, and hearing of the Cause of his Torment; he took a Lodging in that Street; and the Moment he was at liberty to reflect on what had passed, found it was much harder to conquer a Passion than to raise...

— Fielding, Sarah (1710-1768)

Date: 1744, 1753

"But alas! better had it been for us both, had she for ever shut herself from the World, and spent her time in conquering, instead of endeavouring to gratify and indulge her Passion."

— Fielding, Sarah (1710-1768)

Date: 1744, 1753

"I can now sit in my Bed with a calm Resignation, to which my conquered Mind has been long a Stranger."

— Fielding, Sarah (1710-1768)