Date: 1733

"OR, in a more gross Similitude, the Intelligent Principle is like a Bell in a Steeple, to which there are an infinite Number of Hammers all around it, with Ropes of all Lengths, terminating or touching at every Point of the Surface of the Trunk or Case, one of whose Extremities being pull'd or t...

— Cheyne, George (1671-1743)

Date: 1733

"I have formerly suggested, that the best Similitude I can form of the Nature and Actions of this Principle upon the Organs of its Machin, is that of a skillful Musician playing on a well-tun'd Instrument."

— Cheyne, George (1671-1743)

Date: 1733

"The most difficult Problem in all the Animal OEconomy, is, to give any tolerable Account of Muscular Action or Animal Motion. The Similitude of a Machin put into Action and Motion by the Force of Water convey'd in Pipes, was the readiest Resemblance the Lazy could find to explain Muscular Motion...

— Cheyne, George (1671-1743)

Date: 1733

"Indeed, the large Size, the wonderful Texture, and the great Care and security Nature has employ'd about the Brain, makes it probable it has been design'd for the noblest Uses, viz. to be the Temple or Sensorium of the sentient and intelligent Principle."

— Cheyne, George (1671-1743)

Date: 1733

"May not the sentient Principle have its Seat in some Place in the Brain, where the Nerves terminate, like the Musician shut up in his Organ-Room? May not the infinite Windings, Convolutions, and Complications of the Beginning of the Nerves which constitute the Brain, serve to d...

— Cheyne, George (1671-1743)

Date: 1733

"I own it is much easier to confute than establish, and I should not be very Sanguin about the Non-existence of animal Spirits, but that I have observ'd the dwelling so much upon them, has led Physicians too much to neglect the mending Juices, the opening Obstructions, and the strengthening the S...

— Cheyne, George (1671-1743)

Date: 1733

"It seems to me absolutely impossible, without such a Help, to keep the Mind easy, and prevent its wearing out the Body, as the Sword does the Scabbard; it is no matter what it is, provided it be but a Hobby-Horse, and an Amusement, and stop the Current Reflexion and intense Thinking, which Perso...

— Cheyne, George (1671-1743)

Date: 1734

"Besides the five Senses, the Naturalists generally speak of a Sensorium, or common Sense, which they reckon the ground of all Sensation, or a Medium, as it were, for modifying the Impressions and conveying them to the Mind."

— Forbes of Pitsligo, Alexander Forbes, Lord (1678-1762)

Date: 1734

"And perhaps it is owing to this Medium or Canal, among other things, that having two Eyes and two Ears we do not see nor hear double."

— Forbes of Pitsligo, Alexander Forbes, Lord (1678-1762)

Date: 1734

"But tho' we can tell many things the Fancy can do, 'tis impossible to tell every thing. It adds, it pares, it joins, it separates, it mixes, it jumbles, it builds, it razes; in short, it works wonders in its own Shop, and the best Description will still be inferior to its power."

— Forbes of Pitsligo, Alexander Forbes, Lord (1678-1762)