Date: 1759

"Incumbered with the notions of others, and impoverished by their abundance, he conceives not the least embryo of new thought; opens not the least vista thro' the gloom of ordinary writers, into the bright walks of rare imagination, and singular design."

— Young, Edward (bap. 1683, d. 1765)

Date: 1759

"How have thy Houyhnhunms thrown thy judgment from its seat, and laid thy imagination in the mire?"

— Young, Edward (bap. 1683, d. 1765)

Date: 1759

"But as to the singular talent so remarkable in Euripides, at melting down hearts into the tender streams of grief and pity, there the resemblance fails."

— Young, Edward (bap. 1683, d. 1765)

Date: 1759

"Such demonstration have we, that the theatre is not yet opened, in which solid happiness can be found by man; because none are more than comparatively good; and folly has a corner in the heart of the wise."

— Young, Edward (bap. 1683, d. 1765)

Date: 1759

"Moreover, so boundless are the bold excursions of the human mind, that in the vast void beyond real existence, it can call forth shadowy beings, and unknown worlds, as numerous, as bright, and, perhaps, as lasting, as the stars."

— Young, Edward (bap. 1683, d. 1765)

Date: 1759

"His mighty mind travelled round the intellectual world; and, with a more than eagle's eye, saw, and has pointed out blank spaces, or dark spots in it, on which the human mind never shone."

— Young, Edward (bap. 1683, d. 1765)

Date: 1759

"For genius may be compared to the natural strength of the body; learning to the superinduced accoutrements of arms: if the first is equal to the proposed exploit, the latter rather encumbers, than assists; rather retards, than promotes, the victory."

— Young, Edward (bap. 1683, d. 1765)

Date: 1759

"With regard to the moral world, conscience, with regard to the intellectual, genius, is that god within."

— Young, Edward (bap. 1683, d. 1765)

Date: 1759

"Few authors of distinction but have experienced something of this nature, at the first beamings of their yet unsuspected Genius on their hitherto dark Composition: The writer starts at it, as at a lucid Meteor in the night; is much surprized; can scarce believe it true"

— Young, Edward (bap. 1683, d. 1765)

Date: 1762

Grief may be subdued "by reason's empire shown"

— Young, Edward (bap. 1683, d. 1765)