Date: 1664

"I suppose the body to be nothing but a statue or machine made of earth."

— Descartes, René (1596-1650)

Date: 1748, 1749

Wherefore a soul of clay, capable of discerning at one glance, the relations, and consequences of an infinite number of ideas, that are difficult to apprehend, would be evidently preferable to a heavy and stupid soul, formed of the most precious elements."

— Julien Offray de La Mettrie (1709-1751)

Date: 1748, 1749

"Wit contracts rust amongst those that have none."

— Julien Offray de La Mettrie (1709-1751)

Date: 1748, 1749

"Words, languages, laws, sciences, and the liberal arts were introduced in time, and by them the rough diamond of our understanding was polished."

— Julien Offray de La Mettrie (1709-1751)